Resources & Insights

How Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) Help Shippers Reduce Tariffs & Cut Costs

Key Takeaways:

  • A foreign trade zone (FTZ) allows companies to defer, reduce, or eliminate customs duties on imported goods.

  • Using an FTZ warehouse or yard can reduce tariff costs by allowing assembly or manufacturing before duties apply.

  • FTZs provide operational flexibility, especially for complex supply chains importing multi-component goods.

  • Bonded warehouses offer simpler compliance but fewer manipulation options and limited storage duration.

Is My Cargo Safe? Freight Security Tips for Global Supply Chains

Freight awaits loading onto an aircraft

The fear of cargo being lost, damaged, or otherwise compromised in transit is a common one. For shippers with international supply chains, these anxieties are intensified by unpredictable factors like war and geopolitical tensions, tariffs, piracy, natural disasters, and more. 

Infographic: Transloading vs. Cross-Docking

Transloading vs cross-docking — what's the difference? 

While both are commonly-used logistics methods, the difference between transloading and cross-docking is their purposes.

Transloading focuses on transferring goods between different modes of transportation, often with additional handling steps, while cross-docking focuses on quickly moving goods from inbound to outbound trucks with minimal storage time.

Confused By New USTR Port Fees? What Shippers Need to Know

Posted by Philip Thielen on Sep 26, 2025 9:26:59 AM

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10 Busiest U.S. Ports in 2025 (and How to Choose One)

Posted by Carl Verdon on Jun 23, 2025 4:45:00 PM

In its 2024 Review of Maritime Transport, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) states that marine vessels carry a whopping 80 percent of global trade — a statistic..

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Everything You NEED To Know About Tariffs


Posted by Justin Werner on Apr 4, 2025 9:00:09 AM

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Tariffs in 2025: What Shippers Need to Know About Costs, Supply Chains, and Strategy

Posted by Jay Thomassen on Feb 26, 2025 9:00:00 AM

Freight shippers are no strangers to uncertainty. And right now, tariffs are one of the biggest unknowns hanging over the industry. 

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Top 8 Global Freight Forwarders in 2025 (And How to Choose a Provider)

Posted by Carl Verdon on Feb 12, 2025 9:00:00 AM

According to Statista, the volume of seaborne trade reached nearly 12.3 billion metric tons in 2024. With so much cargo to move (and so much profit on the line), who do shippers trust to safely shepherd their..

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How Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) Help Shippers Reduce Tariffs & Cut Costs

Posted by Brandon Nelson on Oct 23, 2024 9:00:00 AM

Key Takeaways:
  • A foreign trade zone (FTZ) allows companies to defer, reduce, or eliminate customs duties on imported goods.

  • Using an FTZ warehouse or yard can reduce tariff costs by allowing..

Read More

Is My Cargo Safe? Freight Security Tips for Global Supply Chains

Posted by Carl Verdon on Sep 25, 2024 3:31:08 PM

The fear of cargo being lost, damaged, or otherwise compromised in transit is a common one. For shippers with international supply chains, these anxieties are intensified by unpredictable factors like war and..

Read More

Infographic: Transloading vs. Cross-Docking

Posted by ATS on Sep 13, 2024 2:05:26 PM

Transloading vs cross-docking — what's the difference? 

While both are commonly-used logistics methods, the difference between transloading and cross-docking is their purposes.

Transloading focuses on ..

Read More

The Ultimate Guide to Warehouse and Distribution Services

2025 Retail Peak Season: What Shippers Need to Know to Stay Competitive

Posted by Eric Olson on Sep 6, 2024 9:00:00 AM

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