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The Foreign-Trade Zones Act was created to "expedite and encourage foreign commerce" in the United States. This is accomplished through the designation of geographical areas, in or adjacent to Customs Ports of Entry, where commercial merchandise receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce of the United States. Merchandise of every description may be held in the Zone without being subject to Customs duties and other ad valorem taxes. This tariff and tax relief is designed to lower the costs of U.S.-based operations engaged in international trade and thereby create and retain the employment and capital investment opportunities that result from those operations. These special geographic areas – Foreign-Trade Zones – are established "in or adjacent to" U.S. Ports of Entry and are under the supervision of the U.S. Customs Service. Since 1986, U.S. Customs' oversight of FTZ operations has been conducted on an audit-inspection basis, whereby compliance is assured through audits and spot checks under a surety bond, rather than through on-site supervision by Customs personnel.

Why Companies Use Foreign Trade Zones

All of the benefits the Foreign-Trade Zones program can offer manufacturers and processors located in the United States are too numerous to list here. But, there a few main benefits that account for most of the companies that use the Zones program. Those benefits are listed below:

• Relief from inverted tariffs
• Duty exemption on re-exports
• Duty elimination on waste, scrap, and yield loss
• Weekly entry savings
• Duty deferral

Other International Business and Trade Resources

Banka Doiton 2019

Central Florida International Trade Office (CFITO)
3201 East Colonial Drive, Suite A-20 (inside the National Entrepreneur Center)
Orlando, Florida 32803
(407) 420-4860

The Central Florida International Trade Office (CFITO) provides a single location to connect with a variety of trade resources in Central Florida.  The CFITO resides in the National Entrepreneur Center which houses a variety of business support organizations to serve our business community.   This office is designed to accelerate the access and activity for companies interested in trade in Central Florida including Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties.  Their services include:

• Research and analyze Central Florida international trade activity
• Provide international trade events and educational seminars
• Facilitate business connections between Central Florida companies and international companies and delegations
• Connect businesses to relevant trade resources and regional organizations

For more information, visit their website at 

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United States Export Assistance Center (USEAC)
3201 East Colonial Drive, Suite A-20 (inside the National Entrepreneur Center)
Orlando, Florida 32803
Banka Doiton 2019 (407) 420-4425

Banka Doiton 2019 The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, a division of the International Trade Administration, under the U.S. Department of Commerce, has a network of export and industry specialists located in more than 100 U.S. cities and over 80 countries worldwide. These trade professionals provide counseling and a variety of products and services to assist small and midsized U.S. businesses export their products and services.

Banka Doiton 2019 For more information on their services, please visit their website at  /

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District Export Council (DEC)
As a volunteer organization, the DEC does not have a fixed address or phone number, but you may reach them through their website below.

Banka Doiton 2019 The Central-North Florida District Export Council (DEC) is one of the 61 District Export Councils established by the U.S. Department of Commerce in the U.S.  With its more than 30 members, who are business professionals and experts in exporting, our DEC provides leadership and international trade mentoring to our community in the North, West and Central Florida.

Banka Doiton 2019 For more information on the DEC services, please visit their website at 

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Enterprise Florida (EFI)
800 N. Magnolia Ave, Suite 1100
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 956-5600

Enterprise Florida and its partners around the state provide valuable exporting assistance services to Florida-based companies looking to expand internationally. With a broad network of 14 International Offices in 13 countries and six trade offices located around the state, EFI offers many vital services for businesses looking to locate in Florida from overseas and for Florida-based businesses looking to expand internationally.

For more information, please visit their website at