Minnesota Foreign Trade Zones

Category: MN State Programs

A Foreign Trade Zone is the U.S. version of an International Free Trade Zone. Always located near a Port of Entry, an FTZ can be used to store foreign or domestic goods, re-package materials, assemble products, manufacture or re-export goods without paying Customs duties.

Merchandise can be held indefinitely within an FTZ without any payment of customs duty. A U.S. Department of Commerce program born in 1934, FTZs are operated as public utilities by states, port authorities, other political groups, or corporations charted by the state.