Understand the language around FTZ warehouse operations
Plain-language definitions for teams planning the receipt, storage, handling, and release of imported goods.
Foreign-trade zone terminology
Understand the language connected to FTZ warehousing
Use this glossary to prepare questions about admission, storage, handling, status, and release. Definitions are general information; confirm transaction-specific requirements with current official guidance and the appropriate authorized adviser.
A–F
General-purpose zone sites must be within 60 miles or 90 minutes driving time of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection terms describing the movement of merchandise into a U.S. foreign-trade zone under CBP supervision.
A framework used by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board that can allow a grantee to designate magnet and usage-driven sites within an approved service area.
Materials consumed in manufacturing or processing operations within a zone that must be entered for consumption with applicable duties paid.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security.
Merchandise mainly of domestic origin, or foreign-origin merchandise for which customs entry and duty payment occurred before admission to the zone site.
The customs process of filing the documents and paying assessed duties that allow merchandise to enter U.S. commerce. For zone merchandise, this generally occurs when goods leave the zone for the U.S. market.
Merchandise forwarded from a zone site to a destination in another country.
One or more restricted-access sites, including subzones, in or adjacent to a CBP port of entry and operated under authority granted by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board, with zone operations supervised by CBP.
The federal board responsible for administering the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program. It is chaired by the Secretary of Commerce and includes the Secretary of the Treasury or their designated alternates.
Zone merchandise, normally of foreign origin, admitted under CBP supervision without formal entry and duty payment unless and until it enters U.S. commerce. Foreign-status merchandise may be privileged or non-privileged.
Merchandise shipped from a zone site after CBP release, whether to the U.S. market or to a destination in another country.
G–P
A document issued by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board authorizing a zone grantee to establish, operate, and maintain a zone subject to applicable conditions and regulations.
See Zone Grantee.
A zone or subzone site approved by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board but not activated with CBP. No activity under FTZ procedures occurs at an inactive site.
A site intended to serve or attract multiple operators or users under the Alternative Site Framework.
A customs category of foreign-status merchandise. The merchandise is generally classified and appraised in its condition when it leaves the zone and is entered for U.S. consumption.
See Zone Operator.
A U.S. port of entry as defined in CBP regulations, or an authorized user-fee airport listed in CBP regulations.
A customs category under which merchandise is classified and appraised and applicable duties and taxes are determined based on its condition when privileged status is granted, before later manipulation or manufacture in the zone.
S–Z
The jurisdiction or jurisdictions within which a grantee may propose to designate sites through minor boundary modifications under the Alternative Site Framework.
A special-purpose zone site established for a specific operation that cannot be accommodated within an existing general-purpose zone facility.
A site tied to a specific operator or user under the Alternative Site Framework.
A person or organization using a zone for storage, handling, processing, or another authorized activity involving merchandise.
A foreign-trade zone established under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act and applicable regulations. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the term includes subzones.
The corporate recipient of a grant of authority for a zone project and the party responsible for managing that authority.
A corporation, partnership, or person operating a zone or subzone under an agreement with the zone grantee and with the concurrence of the CBP Port Director.
Status for merchandise admitted for exportation or destruction. Merchandise in zone-restricted status generally may not enter U.S. customs territory for consumption unless the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board approves it.
A physical location within a zone or subzone.
The customs status assigned to merchandise admitted to a foreign-trade zone, such as domestic, privileged foreign, non-privileged foreign, or zone-restricted status.