Importing and Exporting Expert:
Western New York Foreign Trade Zone

By definition, a Foreign Trade Zone is an enclosed area operated by a public or private company under U.S. Customs supervision where import duties and quotas do not apply. The Western New York Foreign Trade Zone was founded to aid companies like yours, in saving time and money. It's purpose is to encourage and foster international commerce while stimulating the local economy.

Besides Duty Advantages of using our Zone, we also help companies operate without the overhead. Zone personnel handle all the Shipping/Receiving labor and paperwork for you. Your company can open up a business presence by establishing a mailing address at the Zone. We will collect and forward your mail for you. The Foreign Trade Zone also offers a complete line of secretarial services including fax and telex service.

From the very small to the very large companies, The Western New York Foreign Trade Zone can help establish your company in the global marketplace; and we can save you money doing it! Please Contact Us for our rates or to answer any questions that you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions...

Why do firms use foreign-trade zones?

To maintain the cost competitiveness of their U.S.based operations vis-a-vis their foreign-based competitors. For a firm, zone status provides an opportunity to reduce certain operating costs associated with a U.S. location that are avoided when operating from a foreign site.
Why do communities organize trade zones?
A local trade zone contributes to an area's commercial attractiveness as a place to do business. By using local business initiative and existing facilities, organizing a zone can be a relatively inexpensive feature of an area's overall economic development efforts. A well organized lone will provide immediate service to the area's current business base as well as aiding in the attraction of new business to the area.

How does the zones program fit within the economic development efforts of the various states?

The trade zone program is a true federal program; the underlying authority to approve the creation of a zone resides with the Federal Government. Composing the general character of individual zones is a responsibility delegated to the states, which they fulfill by enactment of enabling legislation. The initiation and use of individual zone protects usually results from some combination of state and local community interest generated by both the private and public sectors. The Foreign-Trade Zone Boards' staff advises zone organizers to integrate their zone project within their state's or local area's overall economic development strategy rather than segmenting their zone as an individual development effort. Overall, zones tend to be incorporated in their areas' efforts to maintain their attractiveness as a business location and/or as an element in state and local development efforts.

Is zone status more beneficial for a foreign-owned U.S.-based firm (or operation) than a "traditional" U.S. firm?

No. The benefit of zone use is determined by the firm's operations, not its ownership; if a U.S. and a foreign owned firm have identical trade operations, the potential benefit of zone status for each of them will be identical. To the extent to which tones treat ownership differently, the difference is that zones encourage U.S. firms to stay in or return to the United States and encourages foreign firms to come to the United States. Currently, over 90% of FTZ users are U.S. based firms. 

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