General Overview
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board, chaired by the Secretary of Commerce, administers the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program. The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce are members of the Board. 委员会的工作人员在商务部. 董事会设有一名执行秘书. U.S. 海关和边境保护局负责监督日常运作. 对外贸易区被认为是在美国境外.S. 美国的关税领土. 在外贸区内经营的公司可以允许外国商品进入该地区，而无需支付美国关税.S. 关税和征收美国的关税.S. quotas. This allows companies to defer, reduce, 或者对进入仓储区的外国产品免征关税, exhibition, assembly, manufacturing, and processing.
There are two types of foreign-trade zones: general-purpose zones and special-purpose subzones. 通用区用地通常是多租户建筑或工业园区用地，已被指定为对外贸易区. By definition, a general-purpose zone must be available to more than one company and is for warehousing approval only. Under the Alternative Site Framework a subzone or usage-driven site may be for one company only. If activity within the zone will change the HTS number of merchandise and secure a financial savings, 然后，必须通过董事会订单从自贸区董事会获得生产权限. 个别公司的生产授权必须在单独的申请中请求，并且必须发出授权的董事会命令. A subzone or usage-driven site, by definition, 是否只为一间公司的利益而作有限的用途，而该用途不能容纳在现有地带的地盘内. 一个典型的分区或使用驱动的指定包括一个公司的制造或分销设施所在的面积.
Common Products in Zones
在美国，超过2,800家公司是区域用户.
Many products offered in the market today are manufactured/distributed in subzones in the United States. The reduction in Customs duties has assisted many companies in retaining their operations in the United States. 在分区生产/分销的一些知名产品是:
- Conair Corporation – small electric appliances
- BP Products, CITGO, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Equistar Chemicals, Exxon, NuStar, Shell Oil, Tesoro, Valero, etc. - gasoline/jet fuel
- General Electric -冰箱，炉灶，洗碗机和洗衣机
- Kodak - digital products
- Intel - computer chips
- Kawasaki - jet skis and ATV’s
- Airstream, Thor, Winnebago - motor homes
- BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, etc. - motor vehicles
- 雅培、艾伯维、阿斯利康、BMS、卡泰伦特、礼来、默克、辉瑞等.- pharmaceutical products
- Ricoh – photocopiers;
- Skechers – shoes;
- STIHL – chain saws;
- Sony - digital products;
- Canon, HP, Minolta, Ricoh, etc. - toner cartridges
There are 294 general-purpose zones that have been approved and 270 general-purpose zones that are currently authorized which cover a wide geographical area in the United States.*
A new Foreign-Trade General-Purpose Zone Application consists of several detailed questions. 每个应用程序都需要大量关于该物业的物理属性的站点信息, detailed information regarding the community and companies at the foreign-trade general-purpose zone. 每个问题还需要几个附件，包括拟议的外贸综合区场地平面图. The Application must be filed under the sponsorship of the nearest local Grantee organization. The Grantee organization has the direct relationship with the Foreign-Trade Zones Board in Washington, D.C.
外贸区局将在 Federal Register 宣布正式提交申请. This will commence a sixty (60) day public comment period where any impacted party may express its opinions regarding the application and file comments regarding the application. 公众意见征询期结束后, 如果没有负面评论, the Foreign-Trade Zones Board will prepare an Examiner’s Report which summarizes the Application, any correspondence received during the process and additional research that may be conducted by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board staff regarding the impact of the approval of this Application. Upon completion of the Report, 对外贸易区管理局将申请包提交给海关总部和财政部进行最终审查. Once approved, the Application packet is sent back to the Department of Commerce and the Foreign-Trade Zones Board where a Foreign-Trade Zones Board Order is issued granting zone status. 从正式提交申请之日到批准的平均处理时间目前为六(6)至十(10)个月. 如果有迫不得已的情况，这个时间框架有时可以加快.
*Current as of August 15, 2021.
备选站点框架(ASF)为被授权方提供了额外的灵活性，可以更快地添加新的区域操作. 这是可选的每个受资助组织. e乐彩专业版下载公司率先实施了ASF. e乐彩专业版下载已经组织了70多个asf. More than any other entity. We have also structured hundreds of companies under the ASF in subzone or usage-driven sites.
One of the benefits of the ASF is that companies may be added in just thirty (30) days. This ASF option does not require a Grantee to locate other zone status property to remove or transfer to the proposed new site as with a traditional boundary modification. The Alternative Site Framework allows a Grantee Organization to restructure its zone with a formal Reorganization Application so that there is one primary or “magnet” site, 获得永久批准后，最多可获得五(5)个额外的“磁铁”站点. Magnet sites are essentially the same as the current general-purpose zone industrial park sites. 还将为单个运营商提供子区域或“使用驱动”网站. If a Grantee opts into this, 一个地区的总面积不能超过2公顷,000 acres of “activated” space. 到目前为止，还没有一个区域达到2000英亩的“激活”空间.
Subzones or Traditional Site Framework (TSF) “Usage-driven” sites are individual sites where an actual warehousing or manufacturing company will commit to activating its operation after approval by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board. 分区或“使用驱动”站点可以在三十(30)天内通过行政边界修改程序获得保护. If a company has a manufacturing facility it would be permitted to secure Production Notification authority (120-day approval for manufacturing) if it qualifies. 对受让方和公司的主要好处是，他们可以快速添加站点，而不必确定要从现有区域中删除的区域状态属性. ASF分区或使用驱动站点有3年的时间限制，“磁铁”区域站点有5年的时间限制. Usage-driven sites must have an operator activate and have zone activity within the three (3) year time limit. Magnet sites must have at least one operator activate within the five (5) year time limit. While sites added through the new Expansion Applications may already face these same time limits, 大多数旧的现有开发区项目都没有. Time limits will require at least one company to activate within each site to preserve that site for the future within a certain time period such as five (5) years.
For the areas when the ASF is not available a Traditional Site Subzone Application is still an option. 分区所需的数据已经大大减少. 它现在要求提供有关该地点的信息:包括当地分区, name of property owner, number of acres, and a site plan. 新的分区应用程序仅指定站点的房地产. If a company is manufacturing it must apply for production authority through a separate request. While the ASF subzone, 没有公众意见征询期，也没有联邦公报通知, the TSF subzone does.
If merchandise is processed in a foreign-trade zone and the HTS number of imported materials changes to secure a financial savings a Production Notification must be filed with the Board. 《e乐彩专业版下载》载有详细问题，以税号和税率确定进口产品和制成品. 公司必须提供一份进口零件的清单, respective Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) classifications, 、关税税率，以及所有拟制造的制成品的关税分类和关税税率. The Notification must be filed under the sponsorship of the nearest local Grantee organization. The Grantee organization has the direct relationship with the Foreign-Trade Zones Board in Washington, D.C.
外贸区局将在 Federal Register 宣布正式提交该通知书. This will commence a forty (40) day public comment period where any impacted party may express its opinions regarding the application on and file comments regarding the application. 公众意见征询期结束后, 如果没有负面评论, the Foreign-Trade Zones Board will prepare an Examiner’s Report which summarizes the Notification, any correspondence with the Company during the process and additional research that may be conducted by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board staff regarding the impact of the approval of this Notification on the domestic industry. Upon completion of the Report, 对外贸易区管理局将通知包提交给海关总部和财政部进行最后审查. Once approved, the Notification packet is sent back to the Department of Commerce and the Foreign-Trade Zones Board where a Foreign-Trade Zones Board Order is issued granting zone status. 从正式提交通知之日到批准的平均处理时间目前为四(4)个月. 如果有迫不得已的情况，这个时间框架有时可以加快. 在公众意见征询期间是否有反对意见, 必须提交更详细的生产申请. 此申请需要大量关于该房产的物理属性的信息, 公司的详细信息, industry and products to be manufactured and/or distributed at the foreign-trade subzone. 此应用程序确定了提议的区域运营商的权限范围. 未来的活动必须与此批准一致，否则可能需要另一个扩展范围的申请.
A Foreign-Trade General-Purpose Zone Expansion Application consists of detailed questions. 每个应用程序都需要大量关于该物业的物理属性的站点信息, detailed information regarding the community and companies at the foreign-trade general-purpose zone. 每个问题都有几个附件, 如对外贸易综合区选址方案建议. The Application must be filed under the sponsorship of the nearest local Grantee organization. The Grantee organization has the direct relationship with the Foreign-Trade Zones Board in Washington, D.C.
外贸区局将在 Federal Register 宣布正式提交申请. This will commence a sixty (60) day public comment period where any impacted party may express its opinions regarding the application and file comments regarding the application. 公众意见征询期结束后, 如果没有负面评论, the Foreign-Trade Zones Board staff will prepare an Examiner’s Report which summarizes the Application, any correspondence during the process and additional research that may be conducted by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board staff regarding the impact of the approval of this Application on the domestic industry. Upon completion of the Report, 对外贸易区管理局将申请包提交给海关总部和财政部进行最终审查. Once approved, the Application packet is sent back to the Department of Commerce and the Foreign-Trade Zones Board where a Foreign-Trade Zones Board Order is issued granting zone status. 从正式提交申请之日到批准的平均处理时间目前为六(6)至十(10)个月. 如果有迫不得已的情况，这个时间框架有时可以加快.
现有一般用途地带或分区的部分面积可转移至拟议的新一般用途地带. As long as the acreage and square footage is approximately similar or less than what was originally approved, 使用这个程序应该没有困难. 一旦e乐彩专业版下载对它的意图有了基本的了解, 还有占地面积的描述, 建筑物的平方英尺数, 以及其他关于新址的细节, e乐彩专业版下载可以准备一份边界修改函给外贸区管理局. Thereafter, we would file the document at the Foreign-Trade Zones Board and seek prompt approval by the Board. The average processing time for a Boundary Modification at the Foreign-Trade Zones Board is thirty (30) days. 但是，每个申请都是根据具体情况进行考虑的. 一些应用程序需要额外的时间. This is not available in areas served by the ASF as a site can be added for a new company in thirty (30) days.
A Foreign-Trade Zones Board Order approving a zone project clearly sets out the Scope of Authority. A Scope Determination letter to the Executive Secretary of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board can clarify whether new activity or facilities are within the scope or spirit of a previously approved zone project. This is an alternative to a formal Expansion Application which requires additional amounts of time, effort, 以及准备和获得批准的成本.
Activation
对外贸易区一经批准, the FTZ Board Regulations require that companies wishing to operate in foreign-trade zone secure approval from the Grantee and must submit and obtain approval of a Request for activation from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. e乐彩下载地址必须遵守海关安全标准, 员工背景调查, 制定详细的计划来管理自由贸易区的运作, 在他们开始运作之前，提交一份自贸区业务手册，记录他们的库存控制和文件程序.e., “activated”). 19 C.F.R. § 146.6; 15 C.F.R. § 400.42. 外贸区企业必须遵守海关和外贸区管理局关于收据处理的规定, storage, assembly, production, manufacturing, documenting, reporting, 以及区域内所有物资的运输. An Annual Report must be filed with the Foreign-Trade Zones Board; an Annual Reconciliation of inventory must occur and be reported to Customs for each zone year. There also must be a cycle count or annual physical inventory at the zone operation.
要提供的初始文件是激活申请. e乐彩专业版下载建议这份文件包括所有必要的附件, 如有可能，应在提交海关时附上操作手册. 申请激活信必须准备好并提交给当地的美国.S. 海关和边境保护(海关)口岸管理所办理的各项对外贸易区活动手续. The Application for Activation contains different information for different foreign-trade zone operations. However, 有几个一般的领域必须以某种方式进行讨论, 包括:地盘图则, Purpose of Activation, Procedures Manual, 担保组织的同意, Background Investigation, Security Inspection, FTZ Operator’s Bond, FIRMS Code, 制造授权(如适用), Statistical Reporting, Zone Inventory Management, 自动化商业系统承诺, 及《e乐彩下载地址》所载的特别授权申请，该申请须获美国海关港口总监批准.
向海关提供的《e乐彩下载地址》是一种高层次的说明文件, but very detailed basis, exactly how all aspects of the zone site project would be managed with all forms to be filed with Customs completed to Customs specifications based upon the Company’s intended zone admissions and shipments.
对外贸易区经营者保税必须从经批准的保税公司获得，并由e乐彩下载地址向海关备案. 海关要求的保释金的最低面值一般为100美元,000 or $400,000 in Los Angeles. 实际成本只是票面金额的一小部分. 保函的数额必须等于设施内持有的外国未完税材料的平均价值所欠的关税.
U.S. 海关及边境保护局须先进行货物保安调查，才可批准启用货物. 对物理、员工和访客的安全进行审查. This will consist of a Foreign-Trade Zone officer inspecting the proposed zone facility to ensure it is a secure facility so that the foreign nonduty-paid merchandise is protected. One of the missions of U.S. 海关是保护税收的. In this case, the revenue for duty has not been collected and is deferred while merchandise is in a zone. Customs must confirm that the merchandise and resulting duty is adequately protected while in a zone. While CBP has security requirements, most firms current security standards meet CBP requirements.
An important step in the process is to develop an overall foreign-trade zone management plan. A meeting with Company personnel to develop the necessary knowledge foundation is necessary. 最好使用导入/导出的“团队方法”, Manufacturing (if applicable), Logistics, Receiving/Shipping, Purchasing, Finance, Legal, and others directly related to all activities that should participate in the initial meetings. 有必要有条不紊地审查和分析现有的业务, inventory systems, and available reports. e乐彩专业版下载可以提供一份详细的问卷，以多页电子表格的形式提前发送给公司完成, identifying pertinent information that must be taken into account when designing the zone management system.
管理自由贸易区的运作有两种选择. A determination must be made as the necessary modifications to Company’s existing inventory management systems in order to adequately manage a foreign-trade zone. e乐彩专业版下载将评估当前计算机系统的能力，以确定任何必要的修改, 包括附加数据元素的标识, 加上额外的报告和修改或组合现有的报告，以满足其他联邦机构的要求. 必须确定是否可以加强现有系统，使其包括诸如原籍国等数据要素, zone status, 美国协调税则表(HTSUS)的分类和关税税率，以及撰写报告的能力. 否则，就需要一个“附加”系统. 一旦e乐彩专业版下载完成了这个过程, a detailed Foreign-Trade Zone System Specification document is prepared based upon the information obtained. The document will contain a detailed explanation of what is required to organize; implement and maintain the structuring of the foreign-trade zone management system; monitor the activity for compliance purposes on an ongoing basis; and to identify new zone financial saving opportunities as new products or operations arise. 该文件还将载有样本报告的展品.
Training
We will develop with Company personnel necessary training in Foreign-Trade Zone management to assure that multiple company employees are well-versed in all aspects of FTZ management before zone start-up. Finally, we will review the first CBPF 214 admission document for receipt of merchandise into the zone site and the first CBPF 3461/CBPF 7501 Customs Entry for the shipment of zone merchandise out of the facility. These documents will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness before they are filed with Customs. 在区域启动三十(30)天后，e乐彩专业版下载可以返回区域详细审查第一个月运营的各个方面, confirm its accuracy, 并确定任何必要的改进.
Foreign-Trade Zone Agreement
受让与人须与对外贸易区经营人签订合同. This contract should outline the responsibilities of the Operator and the Grantee organization. For example, 合同包括责任等方面的内容, termination options, indemnity, 年费和其他应支付给受资助机构的费用, and many other areas. As a law firm, we have structured hundreds of these contracts for a variety of situations.