View of a cargo ship on the water
U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones
Encouraging activity and investment in the U.S.
Foreign-Trade Zones 101

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

Foreign-Trade Zones Resources

Man wearing blue shirt writing on paper on a desk
How to Apply
Formats, guidance and instructions on requests for FTZ authority and site and subzone designations.
Learn How to Apply
EC Card Laptop displaying data trend lines
Online FTZ Information System (OFIS)
Provides information on each foreign-trade zone such as contact information, sites, subzones and Federal Register notices. This is the link you will use to submit your Annual Report.
Access OFIS
A person working at a laptop with data charts displayed on the screen with a mobile phone and glasses on a table.
How to use OFIS
This link provides instructions on finding copies of recent applications and comments received in OFIS. Information on the annual report is also available here.
Learn How to Use OFIS
Warm tone library bookshelves
Reading Room
Information on past FTZ approvals, including for production authority. Links are also available to other reference and guidance documents as well as lists of recent staff cases.
Learn More About FTZs
Illuminated lightbulb on side dark background
Grantee Information Page
Information to assist FTZ Grantees in implementing and managing their foreign-trade zones
Find Info for FTZ Grantees

Reference Links

Illustration of a paper and pencil
Background Information on FTZs

FAQs, a training video, a glossary of FTZ terms, and other information on the FTZ program

About the FTZ Program
Illustration of legal scales
Foreign-Trade Zones Act

Read the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, 19 U.S.C. sections 81a-81u.

The FTZ Act
Illustration of legal scales
Foreign-Trade Zones Regulations

Review the 2012 preamble and Subparts A-G of the FTZ Regulation 15 CFR Part 400.

FTZ Board's regulations
Illustration of a desk box overflowing with paper
Annual Report to Congress

View past annual reports to the Congress of the United States dating back to 2000.

The FTZ Annual Reports to Congress
Multi-ethnic businessman standing and shaking hand in the city for successful in Business Cooperation.

Questions?

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

FTZ Staff Contact Information

CBP Information

Illustration of the letter i inside a circle
CBP FTZ Information

Information about U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) oversight of FTZs as well as information for CBP on FTZ Board procedures.

more CBP Information

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility