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FTZ 218 — Foreign-Trade Zone 218 — St. Lucie County
Florida · St. Lucie County · Port of entry: FL, Fort Pierce
FTZ 218 is a Foreign-Trade Zone in St. Lucie County, Florida, sponsored by St. Lucie County and serving St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties through the port of entry at Fort Pierce.
Foreign-Trade Zone 218 is a federally designated trade zone located in St. Lucie County, Florida, and administered by St. Lucie County as the grantee. The zone's service area covers St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties, Florida, and it operates in connection with the port of entry at Fort Pierce, FL.
A Foreign-Trade Zone is a designated area within the United States that is treated, for customs purposes, as being outside U.S. commerce. Companies operating within an activated FTZ site or subzone can defer, reduce, or in some cases eliminate customs duties on qualifying merchandise, depending on how the goods are admitted, processed, and ultimately entered into U.S. commerce or exported. This structure is generally relevant to importers, manufacturers, and distributors that bring foreign-origin goods or components into the country for storage, assembly, processing, or distribution.
Businesses located, or considering locating, within the St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee County service area may evaluate whether FTZ 218 status fits their operations. Companies typically work with a licensed customs broker or an FTZ compliance consultant to assess whether their specific facility and activities qualify, and to prepare and file the paperwork required for site or subzone designation through the applicable federal process. FTZ 218 itself does not guarantee duty savings for any particular company; eligibility and benefit depend on each facility's goods, processes, and customs filings.
Who qualifies
How to apply
1. Contact St. Lucie County, the grantee for FTZ 218, to discuss whether your facility's location and planned activity fit within the zone's service area.
2. Consult a licensed customs broker or FTZ compliance consultant to evaluate your goods, processes, and potential duty treatment.
3. Review the official FTZ Board application process at https://www.trade.gov/how-to-apply for the federal steps required to obtain site or subzone designation.
Service area: St Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties, FL
Questions people ask
What is FTZ 218?
FTZ 218 is a Foreign-Trade Zone located in St. Lucie County, Florida, sponsored by St. Lucie County.
Who is the grantee for FTZ 218?
St. Lucie County is the grantee, meaning it holds the federal grant of authority for the zone.
What area does FTZ 218 cover?
Its service area includes St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties, Florida.
What port of entry does FTZ 218 use?
The zone is associated with the port of entry at Fort Pierce, Florida.
Do I need a customs broker to use an FTZ?
Most companies work with a licensed customs broker or FTZ compliance consultant to determine fit and handle the required customs filings.
Is an FTZ the same as a bonded warehouse?
No, though both involve customs-supervised storage, FTZs offer broader options such as manufacturing, assembly, and processing under different duty rules than bonded warehouses.
How do I get subzone status for my own facility?
You would typically contact the grantee, St. Lucie County, or a customs broker/FTZ consultant, and follow the federal FTZ Board application process.
Can any business in Florida use FTZ 218?
Generally only businesses with facilities located within the stated service area of St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties are relevant to this specific zone.
Does FTZ 218 guarantee duty savings?
No, the zone provides a framework for potential duty deferral, reduction, or elimination, but actual benefit depends on each company's specific goods and operations.
Where can I find the official application process?
The official FTZ Board application process is described at https://www.trade.gov/how-to-apply.
Source: FTZ Board OFIS zone list (ofis.trade.gov). GetFundedUSA is independent and not affiliated with this zone's operator.