FTZ 147 now covers eleven counties in Southcentral Pennsylvania:
- Adams County
- Berks County
- Cumberland County
- Dauphin County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Juniata County
- Lancaster County
- Lebanon County
- Perry County
- York County
FTZ
147 got off to a slow start. For various
reasons no zone activity occurred until 1996 when Baker Refractories began to
use the FTZ program to eliminate Customs Duties on imported magnesite. That use was short lived as the United States
eliminated the import duties on magnesite a year or so later. While the zone grew by expanding the service
area into additional counties, the use of the zone by companies
stalled until 2005 when Clarks’ Shoe Company began importing footwear using FTZ
procedures. The next 15 years saw the
explosion of zone use in FTZ 147. The amount of merchandise moving thru foreign-trade zones in FTZ 147 went
from $0.00 in 2005 to $14,073,059,437.00 in 2020.
In 2020, the most recent year statistics are available, FTZ 147 received over 10 times more merchandise in zone status than any other zone in Pennsylvania. FTZ 147 ranks 5th in the nation, and 2nd for an inland port, for receipts of merchandise into warehouses in Zone Status. FTZ 147 ranks 20th in the nation in terms of exports from warehouse zones. Remember, FTZ 147 was last in the nation in 2005, just 15 years ago.
Companies can use foreign-trade zones to maintain the cost competitiveness of their U.S.-based operations in relation to their foreign-based competitors. The fundamental benefit offered by the FTZ program to U.S.-based companies include:
- Deferral of Duties
- Reduction of Duties
- Elimination of Duties
For the U.S.-based companies involved in international trade, the FTZ program provides a means of improving their competitive position in relation to their counterparts abroad.
For more information regarding U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones, please contact Randy P Campbell at FTZ@CampbellTradeGroup.com
