Foreign-Trade Zone Program Helps Pinellas County Businesses Gain a Competitive Advantage

On December 3, 2025, Pinellas County Economic Development’s Brent Barkway joined other international trade experts to provide information to businesses about the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) program. The event was held at Port Tampa Bay and sponsored by the Port, Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED), and Foreign-Trade Zone 79. Participants received critical information about how the FTZ program can help streamline the process and minimize the costs associated with qualified importing, exporting, manufacturing, and distribution activities.

A Foreign-Trade Zone is a secured, designated location in the U.S. considered outside U.S. customs territory for tariff purposes. Barkway’s presentation highlighted the appeal of FTZs for businesses, noting that companies can store, process, assemble, and manufacture goods in an FTZ before customs entry, providing flexibility for importers/exporters to support U.S.-based operations. Benefits of an FTZ designation include: duty deferral, reduction, or elimination; significant savings on merchandise processing fees; streamlined customs processes; and no duty on waste or scrap.

Barkway also explained the challenges of navigating the FTZ program, explaining that strict compliance, required training, penalties for errors, and costs can seem daunting to those initially exploring the program. “It’s not a program most business owners want to dive into on their own,” he says. “We at PCED can help companies determine if the FTZ route is a good option in the first place, provide guidance on the necessary steps, and connect clients to experts to get the details done right from the start.”

Freedom USA’s Director of Quality and PCED client John Hartnett attended the December 3 FTZ event and had nothing but praise for the information presented and assistance provided by Barkway and PCED: “The FTZ seminar that we attended at Port Tampa Bay was very well done and gave us a much better understanding of the benefits and challenges of operating a Foreign Trade Zone. The speakers were well-versed and the presented information helped us create further strategies to pursue FTZ.  For companies considering becoming an FTZ it is good to know that there are local contacts available to help guide you through the process.” 

Could your business benefit from the Foreign-Trade Zone program? Contact Brent Barkway today for customized consultation and guidance: call (727) 464-7332 or email bbarkway@pinellas.gov. Find more information at www.PCED.ORG/FTZ.