Free trade zones Free trade zones A A

Free trade zones

Free trade zones A A group of countries that have few or no price controls in the form of tariffs or quotas between each other. Free trade areas allow the agreeing nations to focus on their comparative advantages and to produce the goods they are comparatively more efficient at making, thus increasing the efficiency and profitability of each country. One of the most well-known and largest free trade areas was created by the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on January 1, 1994. This agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico encourages trade between these North American countries. Free Trade Zones are also known as Special Economic Zones in some countries. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been established in many countries as testing grounds for

Free Trade Zones are also known as Special Economic Zones in some countries. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been established in many countries as testing grounds for the implementation of liberal market economy principles. SEZs are viewed as instruments to enhance the acceptability and the credibility of the transformation policies and to attract domestic and foreign investment.

History • The world's first Free Trade Zone was established in Shannon, Ireland (Shannon Free Zone). This was an attempt by the Irish Government to promote employment within a rural area, make use of a small regional airport and generate revenue for the Irish economy. It was hugely successful, and is still in operation today. The number of worldwide free-trade zones proliferated in the late 20 th century. In the United States free-trade zones were first authorized in 1934. • This is not to be confused with an "Export Processing Zone" (EPZ) which is actually a type of free trade zone (FTZ), set up generally in developing countries by their

• Arshiya International Ltd. , India's first free trade and Warehousing zone. The largest multi-product free trade and warehousing infrastructure in India. Arshiya first 165 acre FTWZ is operation in Panvel, Mumbai, and is to be followed by one in Khurja near Delhi. Arshiya mega logistics hub at Khurja to have 135 acer FTWZ, 130 acer Industrial and Warehousing zone in Central, South and East of India. • Cochin Special Economic Zone is a Special Economic Zone in Cochin, in the State of Kerala in southwest India, set up for export- oriented ventures. The Special Economic Zone is a foreign territory within India with special rules for facilitating foreign direct investment. The Zone is run directly by the Government of India. Cochin SEZ is a multi-product zone. Cochin is strategically located. It is in southwest India, just 11 nautical miles off the international sea route from Europe to the Pacific Rim. Cochin is being develop by the Dubai ports International as a container transshipment terminal with direct sailing to important markets of the world, which could it as Hub of South Asia.

Free trade zones • A foreign-trade zone is a designated location in the United States where companies can use special procedures that help encourage U. S. activity and value added - in competition with foreign alternatives - by allowing delayed or reduced duty payments on foreign merchandise, as well as other savings. • A site which has been granted zone status may not be used for zone activity until the site has been separately approved for FTZ activation by local U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials, and the zone activity remains under the supervision of CBP. FTZ sites and facilities remain within the jurisdiction of local, state or federal governments or agencies. • Airport, seaport, or any other designated area for duty-free import of raw materials, components, sub-assemblies, semi-finished or finished goods. Such items can be stored, displayed, assembled, or processed for re-export or entry into the general market of the importing country (after paying the required duties). Also called foreign trade Zone or free zone.

Foreign-trade zones are designated sites licensed by the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board (Commerce Secretary is Chairperson) at which special customs procedures may be used. These procedures allow domestic activity involving foreign items to take place prior to formal customs entry. Duty-free treatment is accorded items that are re-exported and duty payment is deferred on items sold in the U. S. market, thus offsetting customs advantages available to overseas producers who compete with producers located in the United States. Subzones/usage-driven sites are approved for a specific company/use. A site which has been granted zone status may not be used for zone activity until the site or a section thereof has been separately approved for FTZ activation by local U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials, and the zone activity remains under the supervision of CBP. FTZ sites and facilities remain within the jurisdiction of local, state or federal governments or agencies.

A free trade zone (FTZ)is a designated area that eliminates traditional trade barriers, such as tariffs, some kind of taxes and fees and minimizes bureaucratic regulations. The goal of a free trade zone is to enhance global market presence of the Country or location by attracting new business and foreign investments. Tax-free trade zones generate foreign exchange through exports, and economic value added. create Free, foreign, and export processing zones all fall under the umbrella of being free trade zones. Because these terms are confusingly similar, they are often used interchangeably.

Tax-free trade zones have four policy objectives: • to attract foreign direct investment • to decrease unemployment • to support economic reform strategies by developing and diversifying exports • to test new approaches to foreign direct investment and to policies related to • law, land, labor, and the pricing of goods.

Allowing in depth valueadded Processing E. g. : assembling, packaging, manufacturing Relaxing hiring ratio foreign Workers 40% of total work force Duty & tax exemption Exempt fromcustom duties, Commodity tax, sales tax, tabacco and Wine excise tax Facilitating business activities Streaming procedure for granting Entry and issuing lining visas to Business personnel; providing Exhibition facilities and services Ease of financial operations Permitting setup of Financial holding Companies for offshore Investment, and allowing OBUs To handle foreign currency transactions With national territory, but outside the customs territory Autonomous management; exempt from Customs checking and inspection, as well as Cargo tracking and escort

Free Trade Zone in India • Establishment of Free Trade Zone is an important aspect of zones – I. Kandla Free Trade Zone II. Santacruz Free Trade Zone • The Santacruz Free trade Zone at Bombay is mainly for firm in electronic area. In these zones various facilities are provided by the government for export production in he form of developed land, water, electricity, and transport, taxes etc. • Supplies can be obtained in these zones for future production without payment of excise duty or import duty. Importation is possible without prior licensing. However, it is obligatory on the firms to export their 100 percent production.

Regulatory incentives In many zones, the authorities act as a one-stop shop, simplifying administrative procedures. A further regulatory incentive is an exemption from limits on foreign ownership. In many Gulf countries, such as Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE, land ownership regulations are relaxed either through renewable long-term leases or outright waivers. Fiscal incentives Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait and the UAE offer complete exemption from private and corporate income taxes. Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen offer corporate tax holidays of variable duration. As for the private income taxes of foreign employees, Yemen offers full exemption, Jordan a 12 -year holiday and Tunisia a flat income tax rate of 20%.

Duty Exemption - No duties on or quota charges on re-exports. • Duty Deferral- Customs duties and federal excise tax deferred on imports. • Inverted Tariff- In situations where zone production results in a finished product that has a lower duty rate than the rates on foreign inputs (inverted tariff), the finished products may be entered at the duty rate that applies to its condition as it leaves the zone (requires prior authorization). • Logistical Benefits- Companies using FTZprocedures may have access to streamlined • customs procedures (e. g. weekly entry or direct delivery). • Other Benefits- Foreign goods and domestic goods held for export are exempt from state/local inventory taxes. FTZstatus may also make a site eligible for state/local benefits which are unrelated to the FTZAct. •

Public Benefit • Help facilitate and expedite international trade. • Provide special customs procedures as a public service to help firms conduct international trade related operations in competition with foreign plants. • Encourage and facilitate exports. • Help attract offshore activity and encourage retention of domestic activity. • Assist state/local economic development efforts. • Help create employment opportunities.

Activities in Zones • Merchandise in a zone may be assembled, exhibited, cleaned, manipulated, manufactured, mixed, processed, relabelled, repackaged, repaired, salvaged, sampled, stored, tested, displayed and destroyed. • Production activity must be specifically authorized by the FTZ Board. (Production activity is defined as activity involving the substantial transformation of a foreign article or activity involving a change in the condition of the article which results in a change in the customs classification of the article or in its eligibility for entry for consumption. ) • Retail trade is prohibited in zones.

Merchandise in a Zone • Any merchandise that is not prohibited from entry into the territory of the U. S. may be admitted to a zone. • If applicable, import licenses or permits from other government agencies may still be required to bring the merchandise into the zone.

Zones can be Located • Zone sites must be within or adjacent to a U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) port of entry. The adjacencyrequirement canbe satisfied if one of factors is met: 1. The zone or subzone site is within the limits of a CBP port of entry. the following 2. The zone or subzone site is within 60 statute miles of the outer limits of a CBP port of entry. 3. The zone or subzone site is within 90 minutes' driving time from the outer limits of a CBP port of entry as verified by the CBP Service Port Director. 4. For subzones only: subzone sites that are outside the 60 miles/90 minutes driving time from the outer limits of the CBP port of entry may alternatively qualify to be considered adjacent if they work with the CBP Port Director to ensure that proper oversight measures are in place.