In 2011, the Port of Tacoma reorganized its foreign trade zone (FTZ) under the U.S. Department of Commerce's Alternative Site Framework (ASF). The new program increases the Port's flexibility and speed in designating FTZs, and reduces paperwork.
The Port's FTZ #86 is one of the largest on the U.S. West Coast. Based on the dollar value of foreign merchandise moved through the FTZ, Tacoma ranks third among the 35 West Coast FTZs and 18th out of the 272 in the U.S. In 2010, more than $1.3 billion of goods and merchandise moved through FTZ #86.
Learn more in this Pacific Gateway article.
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| | On the Tideflats FTZ #86 includes 19 Port-owned parcels on 621 acres in the Tacoma Tideflats. All are zoned for warehousing, manufacturing or heavy industrial uses. Many of the sites are rail-served and located adjacent to or near Port terminals, and nearly all are located near interstate highways. Some of these areas are paved, while others have site-specific building or infrastructure improvements already in place. Outside the Tideflats FTZ #86 properties are also available in the City of Sumner and in the Frederickson Industrial Area, both of which are located near the Port. Potential FTZ users may also elect to set up an FTZ sub-zone in other locations within the Puget Sound or around Washington state. |
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The Port's Foreign Trade Zone #86 covers more than 2,235 acres of Port and privately-owned land. It consists of 11 Magnet Sites (industrial parks or property).
A foreign trade zone is an area considered legally outside of the U.S. Customs territory. FTZs give importers and exporters a flexible way to ship, store and add value to goods while delaying, reducing or eliminating payment of U.S. Customs duties.
The benefits of using FTZ #86 include:
- Delaying payment of U.S. Customs duties and excise taxes until goods leave the Zone to enter U.S. markets.
- Paying duty only on the value of imported components when you use a combination of domestic and imported materials to manufacture or process goods within the Zone.
- Reducing U.S. Customs duties on goods manufactured or processed in the Zone when imported components have a higher duty rate than the finished goods.
- Eliminating U.S. Customs duties and fees on goods that you re-export.
- Holding excess goods in the Zone to avoid import quota restrictions, then release them during the next quota period.
- Transferring in-bond merchandise between FTZs for manufacturing purposes and defer duty until the product enters the U.S. marketplace.
- Paying reduced or no duties on nonconforming, damaged, scrapped or obsolete components or goods.
- Lowering other costs, such as inventory, insurance and cost of sales, as no duty is paid on labor, overhead or profit from FTZ production operations.
The Port of Tacoma is strategically located in the Pacific Northwest for cargo movements between Asia and Midwest and East Coast destination. This makes it the ideal site for your FTZ activities.
In Tacoma, you can choose from: