Foreign Trade Zone

The Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs) Program was authorized by Congress in 1934 (FTZ Act – 19 USC 81a-81u) and is used to help encourage value-added activity at U.S. facilities in competition with foreign alternatives by allowing delayed or reduced duty payments on foreign merchandise, as well as other savings. Foreign-Trade Zone No.153, established in San Diego, California on October 19, 1988 (pursuant to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board Order #394 and published in 53 Federal Register 41616), is administered by the City of San Diego as the Zone Grantee for the San Diego FTZ program.