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Optimism for Growth in 2021 is Uneven in the USMCA Region

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Archives, Banking on Global Trade, Foreign Trade Zones, International Trade

Optimism for Growth in 2021 is Uneven in the USMCA Region

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The past year and the ensuing Covid-19 recession has created a time of uncertainty and instability for economies throughout the world, and especially in the USMCA region, according to a recent Payment Practices Barometer survey from trade credit insurer Atradius.

The most telling data gathered in the region concerns business confidence, where survey results were drastically different in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. The majority of survey respondents in Mexico expect to see an improvement in business performance over the coming months, while in Canada, this picture is reversed with only a minority expressing optimism. The U.S. falls somewhere in the middle.

More than half of all sales transacted on credit

Of the total value of all B2B sales in the USMCA region, 53% were made using trade credit last year. This represents growth, as 44% of businesses told us that they increased the use of trade credit in the months following the pandemic.

Temporary fiscal packages in the U.S. and Canada have helped struggling businesses in the short term. As these are withdrawn in the coming months, we are likely to see a rise in insolvencies.

In this environment of heightened risk, it is important that businesses continually monitor the financial health of their customers and note any early warning signs of insolvency. Some of those signs may include slower payments or late payments. However, it should be taken into consideration that the pandemic has presented additional strain on the supply chain that is often out of any one company’s control, leading to slower payments.

Credit management costs rise sharply

Businesses throughout the USMCA region have reported a rise in the cost of managing their accounts receivable in the months following the Covid-19 outbreak. The sharpest rises were reported by businesses that managed credit and collections in-house.

In part, this rise can be attributed to an increase in the percentage of sales made on credit; simply a greater number of credit sales requires more resources to manage them. However, this may also be an indicator of a deteriorating risk environment, as the longer an invoice remains unpaid, the more resources it takes to collect on it.

For businesses that do not use trade credit insurance or an invoice collection service such as factoring, rising payment delays equate to rising costs. Businesses that do outsource credit management to such services enjoy the certainty that their invoice will be paid and that management costs will not escalate.

Businesses favor domestic markets for credit sales

The USMCA region saw many more domestic credit sales than foreign credit sales in the year following the outbreak of the pandemic, with a 60/40 split in favor of domestic customers. This could have been caused by the supply chain challenges that followed the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to concerns over offering credit to foreign customers.

Businesses outside of the USMCA region should approach trade in the region with optimism. While it is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over, the region is rebounding as expected. If there’s one thing that businesses around the world have learned is that offering more flexibility within their supply chains can help tremendously in the face of unexpected events like the Suez Canal blockage, where its effects were compounded by the pandemic’s supply chain disruptions. Companies that diversify their customer base will be better prepared to capitalize on opportunities should their competitors face unexpected disruptions to their supply chain.

Uneven outlooks for growth

On average, most businesses across the region are positive in their outlook and expect to see improvement in the second half of 2021. Upon a closer examination, a country-by-country comparison reveals a vastly different picture. In Mexico, 81% of businesses surveyed anticipate growth, while 36% of businesses in Canada hold the same view. Businesses in the U.S. fall about halfway between these poles. However, it should be taken into consideration that each country in the USMCA all started from very different places before the pandemic, making their perceptions of recovery different.

Businesses in Mexico were experiencing a recession long before the COVID-19 pandemic and received limited financial support from their government over the past year and a half. In contrast, both the U.S. and Canada started from a stronger economic position going into the pandemic and have received substantial financial help from their governments to stay afloat.

Businesses in both Canada and the U.S. may be bracing themselves for the removal of government fiscal support as well, which will have a much greater impact on their business than those in Mexico who are used to the lack of government support and ready for a rebound.

Post-recession growth is predicted for all of the countries in the USMCA region. It will be interesting to see which businesses thrive and grow during this period and whether the optimism and pessimism expressed by the survey respondents comes to pass over the next year.

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Aaron Rutstein is the Vice President – Regional Director, Risk Services – Americas at Atradius

sourcing
Archives, Global Trade Daily, International Trade

Exclusive White Paper: Sourcing Globally – Senior Managements Guide to “Thirteen Key Practices”

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Sourcing globally will continue to grow and expand into new markets as we enter the third decade of the new millennium.

Multinational companies down to smaller family-owned organizations are learning the critical importance of developing multiple and varied sources of raw materials, components, and finished products.

Traditional foreign sourcing options, such as China are being challenged aggressively for the first time in its 40-year tenure as the fastest and expansively growing foreign source of manufactured goods.

Tied into this are the 301 Tariffs under the Trump Administration, that our newly elected President Biden is likely to continue on with for at least the balance of 2021. Which have increased “landed costs” by as much as 25%.

Senior management is best guided by setting up policies, protocols, and SOP’s in how their management teams and staff operate in their global sourcing opportunities and initiatives.

The goal should always be to reduce the risk and cost of goods sourced globally.

In public companies, these guidelines would help meet Sarbanes- Oxley regulations and in private companies … “Best Practices”. The SOP’s create a standard with the following benefits:

-Documented and written commitment to follow government regulations

-Consistent approach to regulatory adherence

-Foundation and resource for all global supply chain personnel to follow

-Creates training module to make sure everyone knows how to operate in their companies following all necessary regulations.

Having said all of that …. The following Best Practices outlined in Thirteen Steps offer the international executive a blueprint for either new or matured global sourcing initiatives:

1. Learn how to navigate the opportunities offered through the numerous Free Trade Agreements that can be leveraged for economic advantage in the global sourcing arena

Utilizing FTA’s lower lands costs by reducing or eliminating duties and taxes.

2. Diversify sourcing into multiple countries so dependence on single sourcing is not relevant

This becomes a risk management concept in spreading the sourcing exposure over Variable options.

3. Learn the culture of the countries you source from. This will maximize your opportunity to negotiate better deals and build stronger relationships.

Keep in mind in overseas markets … “relationship” drives the success of the business deal and the long-term partnership with the vendor/supplier.

4. Utilize specialized professional attorneys who can guide you through the maze of foreign regulations, laws and policies that will influence sourcing options, agreements and contracts.

Legal expertise can be expensive, but it is a necessary expenditure that can help avoid pitfalls, mistakes, and serious financial consequences.

Laws vary greatly in foreign countries and companies that learn how to proactively avoid litigation and other legal issues will always minimize risk and maximize opportunity.

Purchase Orders (PO’s) also have different legal consequences in various countries, that need to be reconfigured to work better.

5. Develop sourcing reach into Mexico where maquiladora programs and near sourcing initiatives can prove to be a valuable option as a sourcing alternative.

Near sourcing can prove to significantly lower landed costs, reduce risk and enhance demand planning sand lead time reductions.

6. Utilize the service of specialized freight forwarders who can provide local support in the sourcing countries in arranging local freight needs, outbound logistics requirements, handle export specifics and the inbound process into the United States.

The freight forwarder or Customhouse broker can be a valuable partner in impacting risk and cost along with huge benefits in managing inbound supply chain needs.

7. Tread cautiously through all Intellectual Property Exposures (IPR) that can happen once you start to trade in foreign markets, share business models. Trade secrets and confidential manufacturing data.

Managing IPR issues needs to always be addressed proactively when forming relationships in global sourcing models. The headaches and costs in chasing and dealing with IPR breaches can be costly, aggravating and a waste of time and effort. And litigation in markets such as China typically create less them robust results … leaving both parties dissatisfied and filled with angst.

Managing IPR issues needs to always be addressed proactively when forming relationships in global sourcing models. The headaches and costs in chasing and dealing with IPR breaches can be costly, aggravating and a waste of time and effort. And litigation in markets such as China typically create less them robust results … leaving both parties dissatisfied and filled with angst.

8. Pay close attention to the choice of INCO Term (International Commercial Term of Purchase or Sale). The choice impacts risk and cost between the supplier and the buyer.

There are 11 INCO term options in the revised 2020 Edition: Ex Works, FAS, FCA. FOB, CIF, CIP, CPT, CFR, DAP, DPU and DDP.

Importers need to choose a term where they typically control the international freight inbound, the customers clearance process and delivery to the ultimate consigned.

This helps reduce both cost and risk and typically will offer better options and performance on the inbound logistics.

9. Make sure you:

-Understand all the regulatory issues with Customs and other regulatory agencies.

-Make sure you have a “point person” who takes ownership of regulatory concerns … typically referred to as the “trade compliance manager”.

-Develop SOP’s to integrate into the sourcing business model.

-Train all stakeholders in the global supply chain on all the aspects of regulatory controls and just how it is related to their specific responsibilities.

10. Always make sure you have supported your sourcing decision by working up “landed cost modeling” to affirm the purchasing decision utilizing specific metrics.

Landed cost modeling creates a metric to do comparison shopping and to evaluate options or choices by adding up all the direct, indirect and ancillary costs added to the origin purchase or acquisition cost.

Landed cost modeling creates a comprehensive formula to measure the method and process in making a sourcing decision on foreign shores.

11. Document these protocols in written SOP’s to evidence adherence to government regulations and best practices. This provides clear and concise senior management influence on managing with good intent, behavior, due diligence and reasonable care.

12. Create internal training programs for your management teams and your operating staff in all these guidelines and best practices. Solid training initiatives are an excellent and proven method to make sure everyone has comprehensive information flow, know what is expected and how best to execute.

13. Combine the utilization of Bonded Warehouses and Foreign Trade Zones, with various sourcing options, that can leverage risk and spend to your favor. This would include inventory, distribution, manufacturing and assembly operations in a secure FTZ, that could significantly lower landed costs to the USA based importer.

The role of Senior Management is to lead. Following these thoughts and turning them into effective actions within your business models is the best way to assure the opportunities to minimize risks and maximize profits within your global sourcing business models.

Senior management is best off by leading their teams into best practices and always exercising due diligence in their business behavior patterns. Any short-term costs and inconvenience will be outweighed by long-term benefits to any organization.

Benefits will include: reduction in risk and cost, business process improvement, more efficient operations, sustainability and significant growth potentials.

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Thomas A. Cook is a 30 year seasoned veteran of global trade and Managing Director of Blue Tiger International, based in New York, LA and West Palm Beach, Florida.

The author of 19 books on international business, two best business sellers. Graduate of NYS Maritime Academy with an undergraduate and graduate degree in marine transportation and business management.

Tom has a worldwide presence through over 300 agents in every major city along with an array of transportation providers and solutions.

Tom works with a number of Associations providing “value add” to their membership services and enhancing their overall reach into global sourcing and in export sales management.

He can be reach at tomcook@bluetigerintl.com or 516-359-6232

corporate reporting
Archives, Foreign Trade Zones, Global Trade Daily

Responding to an Evolving Global Tax Landscape

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Over the last decade, we’ve seen nations start to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of their economies. They want to ensure that multinational enterprises conducting significant business in places where they do not have a physical presence be taxed in such jurisdictions. And, like any tax reform proposal, consensus can be hard to reach because there is so much at stake.

Look no further than the digital tax France aimed at Facebook, Google, and other American technology giants. French lawmakers voted to impose a 3% tax on revenues that companies make from providing digital services to French users. The country estimated that the tax would raise more than $500 million, helping fill a budget hole as more commerce moves online.

Italy, Austria, and Turkey also have imposed their own digital services taxes on large tech firms, and several other European nations, including the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and Spain, have announced intentions to implement such a tax. These countries are frustrated by failure to reach a consensus on a digital tax across the broader European Union.

The national policies on digital taxes have drawn the ire of many businesses and political leaders at a time of heightened tensions over global trade. After decades of flourishing globalization, the specter of higher taxes threatens to complicate long-standing trade pacts and add complexity to the operations of multinationals.

The French digital tax angered the Trump administration, which threatened to retaliate with tariffs on a range of French goods. The two sides struck a truce last month, where France agreed to suspend the tax.

All the uncertainty isn’t good for tax planning. Businesses must rethink how their operations are being taxed internationally. This will result in strategic conversations that go further than the tax department, affecting the way businesses operate internationally.

Many U.S. multinationals are still coming to grips with Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which made taxation on global intellectual property much more complex.

In light of these changes, we’ve seen businesses in jurisdictions across the world change their tax strategies to abide by filing laws in their primary country of operations as well as countries they’ve expanded into.

Case by Case: Responding to Evolving Tax Policies

As businesses continue their overseas expansion in 2020 and beyond, it’s imperative to adhere to these policies to ensure compliance with tax filings across multiple jurisdictions. Businesses have made these new policies a priority as they prime themselves to not only respond to tax policy changes, but also anticipate forthcoming changes that may arise in the coming years.

For companies that have already abided by new international tax policies, we are seeing these changes develop in a few different ways.

Take the United States, for instance. Under their hybrid-territorial tax system, companies based in the United States can invest their earnings into lower-tax foreign countries to ultimately see a reduced tax obligation. Digital taxes would serve as a counter to this, taxing American companies for their digital operations within their jurisdictions regardless of lower-tax investments. As such, we see the potential for American companies to adapt their tax filings to retain the lower-tax investment benefits.

Some businesses have had an easier time than others adapting to this policy evolution over the last five years. France, for example, has seen difficulty from foreign companies operating within its jurisdiction as they report to a separate financial tax administration with a completely different set of processes that often aren’t as modern or up-to-date. Now that France has backed down on its digital tax, these difficulties may very well continue.

Moving Forward: What to Expect

But the fight to tax the digital economy isn’t going away. Even some critics have called for a more unified approach, rather than country-by-country legislation.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is trying to get nearly 140 countries to agree on a plan to modernize tax policies to keep pace with the digital economy. But the slow pace of talks has frustrated many nations, and a global agreement may be years away.

For policies that we’ll see moving forward, we can expect businesses will continue to geographically strategize their tax filings for 1) global tax compliance either in response to, or in anticipation of, updated digital tax policies, and 2) maintaining adequate tax revenues in light of increased taxation as a result of these policies.

What remains to be seen, however, is whether a reciprocating effect will occur – that is, if business adaption to digital tax laws encourage the evolution of said laws to further ensure tax compliance. One thing is certain, however, that the only constant in international tax law is change… and businesses need to be proactive in the way they prepare and respond to these changes.

Businesses should take a holistic approach to ensure their global operations are compliant with all jurisdictions they operate within. Whether that constitutes an internal evaluation of present tax filing processes or a consultation with their professional accounting team to determine the best course of action in light of a potential new policy adoption should be to their discretion and may be dependent on the jurisdictions in question.

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Jason Gerlis is Global Head of Consultancy Solutions for TMF Group in the Americas.

on-demand economy
Archives, Global Trade Daily, International Trade

5 Trends for Latin America’s On-Demand Economy in 2020

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Latin America’s on-demand economy has been at the top of the region’s startup headlines for over a year. At the end of 2018, Brazil’s iFood raised $500M in the largest startup round of all time in Latin America, beating the total VC investment for 2016 with a single round. Just four months later, Colombia’s Rappi doubled the record, raising $1B from Softbank to attack the region.

A significant portion of Softbank’s massive investments in Latin America has been in on-demand economy startups, such as Loggi and Buser. Cornershop’s acquisition saga, ending in a $450M deal with Uber for 51% of the company, also makes it clear that the gig economy will play a major role in developing Latin America’s tech-driven economy.

The rapid growth of this business model has raised questions about regulations, workers’ rights, safety and fraud, and long-term profitability for investors. It has also created work for thousands of migrants, made consumers’ lives easier, and started generating liquidity and ex-employee groups who can start new companies using their startup experience. As Latin American consumers become accustomed to the on-demand economy, here’s a look at how this market will evolve throughout 2020.

1. Regulatory challenges for the Latin American gig economy.

International on-demand startups like Uber experienced (and continue to experience) a regulatory gray area while entering the Latin American market. As homegrown companies like Rappi, Cornershop, and iFood have become a dominating force across the region, governments may start taking a closer look at workers’ contracts and rights.

In particular, on-demand startups that rely on massive, external workforces have been a significant source of work for migrants who can start working from day one without a contract. Rappi admits that up to 30% of its workers are migrants, many of whom are from Venezuela and are escaping a crisis at home. In 2018, Colombia’s Domicilios (acquired by DeliveryHero) became the first delivery startup to provide social security for its workers.

Governments across the region may begin to expect gig economy startups to provide certain benefits like these to their workers in 2020 as these companies begin to employ a significant portion of Latin American workers.

2. The market opens for companies that support the gig economy.

The need for further regulation and protection of workers in the gig economy is creating a new market for startups that serve these large companies. Tech startups that provide insurance, fraud prevention, and benefits to on-demand economy workers now have a pool of millions of potential clients who are connected to the region’s mega-startups.

For example, Colombia’s Truora can provide instant background checks for gig economy employees to prevent hiring bottlenecks and fraud. Companies that can offer tech-driven solutions for market research, insurance, healthcare, and financial inclusion for the on-demand economy will continue to grow in parallel to this booming market in 2020.

3. VC funding for on-demand startups holds firm.

Over the past two years, international VCs have poured billions into the Latin American on-demand economy, creating a market for dozens of competitors in the region’s biggest countries like Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile. The growth of the Latin American middle class, almost all of whom has access to a smartphone, is also bolstering the rise of on-demand startups to serve every niche.

While most of these startups struggle to become profitable, even in markets like Latin America and Asia, investors who have backed the on-demand economy in the US and Asia understand the model and are willing to support Latin American versions. As these startups burn a lot of cash quickly, investors will likely continue dropping large checks on the winners as they try to capture the market. Startups that bring an on-demand model into new industries may also benefit from this influx of capital over the next year.

4. Niche copycats from the US and Asia enter the market.

Latin American consumers have proved to be rapid adopters of on-demand economy solutions, driving new business models to serve an increasingly sophisticated public. For example, Latin America’s ghost kitchens and supermarkets are beginning to raise large rounds in markets like Brazil and Mexico. Brazil’s Mimic, a cloud kitchen startup, recently raised a $9M Seed round to expand locally, while Mexico’s Justo, the first “cloud supermarket” for Latin America, raised $10M to consolidate in the Mexican market.

While these models are still in the early stages of development, the on-demand economy will continue expanding into new industries and business models in 2020. Startups are now using gig economy-style workforces for market research, AI precision-testing, and other crowd-sourcing models, as well as new niche delivery markets. As capital continues to flow into on-demand economy startups in 2020, these new applications of the gig worker model will likely proliferate.

5. Competitors consolidate in the biggest markets.

Just as investments are driving the growth of new on-demand business models, VC support is also helping consolidate the region’s largest startups into “super-apps” that can solve users’ problems within a single platform. Rappi is one of the best examples of these apps, where users can now book an e-scooter, get money delivered, buy food and groceries, and even pay and send money. While all of the Rappi features are not well-known by users yet, this model hints at a trend toward Asian-style all-in-one apps like WeChat.

Brazil’s Movile has also acquired several regional startups to provide a marketplace of options within its platform, including on-demand delivery (iFood/Mercadoni), video content (PlayKids), and payments (Zoop). These well-funded companies will continue to grow and consolidate in 2020, potentially acquiring smaller startups that can add value for their customers and injecting liquidity into the on-demand startup market.

There are over 415 million mobile phone users in Latin America, over two-thirds of whom access the Internet almost exclusively through their phones. The region’s first on-demand startups have opened the market to reach these consumers by providing them with convenient and affordable services directly through mobile apps. These companies have even found workarounds for payment challenges through cash payments and integrations with local convenience stores to onboard the booming Latin American middle class rapidly. There is still tremendous opportunity to reach Latin Americans with on-demand services in new industries and expand current offerings to new cities and customers throughout 2020.

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 Geoffrey Michener is the CEO and Founder of dataPlor.

foreign trade zones
Archives, Features, Global Trade Daily

FOREIGN TRADE ZONES, PORTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORCES CREATE AMERICAN SUCCESS STORIES

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The U.S. Foreign Trade Zones Board’s Annual Report to Congress is bullish on FTZs, finding that after several years of decline in zone activity largely related to a downturn in the petroleum sector, strong increases in all major categories were logged in 2017, the last year for which data are available.

Foreign trade zones provide economic incentives to companies importing or exporting international goods. Duty-free treatment is accorded to 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 on American soil.

Businesses can use FTZ space a variety of ways, including warehousing and distribution of non-ferrous metals for sale on the London Metal Exchange, warehousing spirits and alcohol and storing vehicles before they are sold in the domestic marketplace.

The value of merchandise received at America’s FTZs increased by 9.6 percent in 2017, to $669.2 billion, according to the report that was presented to Congress this past December. Merchandise received at warehouse/distribution operations increased by 15.5 percent, to $259.1 billion, while that received at production operations increased by 6.2 percent, to $410.1 billion.

Foreign-status inputs to FTZs increased by 11.2 percent, to $250.6 billion, and the value of FTZ imports accounted for 10.6 percent of all goods imported into the U.S. in 2017. The majority of merchandise admitted to FTZs (63 percent) is of domestic origin. The value of exports from America’s FTZs increased by 15.1 percent in 2017, to $87.1 billion, which represents 5.6 percent of the value of all goods exported from the U.S. Exports from FTZ production facilities accounted for two-thirds of all exports from FTZs. Employment at America’s 191 active FTZs increased by approximately 7 percent in 2017, to a new record of 450,000 workers at 3,200 firms that used FTZs during the year.

“The FTZ Board’s latest report confirms that the program continues to be a vital component of America’s trade policy,” says Erik O. Autor, president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ), which boasts 650+ members. “The competitive advantage for companies operating in an FTZ has enabled them to boost exports and employment, continuing their strong recovery from the recession.”

The Trade Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based trade research firm, in February provided case studies on the success of FTZs as part of an NAFTZ-commissioned report. “This study measures, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the economic effects of FTZs on the communities in which the zones operate, which we refer to as Zone Economic Communities (ZECs),” states The Trade Partnership introduction to the research, which examined the economic impacts of FTZs in community employment, wages and value added. 

The study concluded the economic impacts of the U.S. FTZ program on communities in which FTZs are located are positive,” The Trade Partnership President Laura M. Baughman said during NAFTZ’s annual Legislative Summit in Washington on Feb. 12. “Many companies have the option to operate inside or outside the United States,” she noted. “They will make that decision based in part on the relative costs of doing business in the United States or abroad. To the extent the Foreign-Trade Zones program can provide positive financial reasons for a U.S. location, it should merit the support of U.S. policymakers.”

“We are very pleased that The Trade Partnership’s analysis has concluded that the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program has demonstrable positive economic impacts on the communities in which FTZs are located,” says NAFTZ Board of Directors Chairwoman Eva Tomlinson, who is also director of FTZ Solutions for UPS Trade Management Services Inc. “These real community impacts are in addition to the value that U.S. firms realize from using the FTZ program.” 

The survey included some individual success stories that follow:

FTZ-38 

(Spartanburg, South Carolina; Inland Port Greer; Port of Charleston) 

BMW broke ground on its first American automobile factory in 1992 in Greer, South Carolina, and the first cars rolled off the line in 1994. Before the German automaker’s arrival, Spartanburg was a ghost town of former textile plants and roughly 60,000 lost manufacturing jobs. BMW’s investment in South Carolina changed all that. Today, BMW employs more than 10,000 workers and produces around 400,000 vehicles annually, more than 70 percent for export to 140 global markets (with China the largest foreign destination, followed by Germany). Inputs imported by BMW duty-free under the FTZ program supplement inputs from 235 U.S. suppliers, 40 of whom are in South Carolina.

“As a consequence of this investment, BMW directly and indirectly adds $6.3 billion annually to South Carolina’s economy and leads to the employment of 36,285 people there,” says the German automaker. “The overall footprint in the U.S. is even larger, with value added by BMW of $15.77 billion and employment of 120,855. In each case, this includes both the direct contribution of BMW and the contribution via purchases of BMW and its employees that would not exist if BMW were not established in the United States.”

Earlier this year, BMW Manufacturing, citing Commerce Department data, said it led the U.S. in automotive exports by value for the fifth consecutive year. More than $8.4 billion in cars and SUVs were assembled in Spartanburg before passing through the Port of Charleston in 2018.

FTZ-154

(Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Greater Baton Rouge Port; Port of South Louisiana)

ExxonMobil is a leading example of a company making use of FTZs to import crude petroleum and process it into downstream products, mainly for domestic use in the U.S. but also for export. The oil company has three FTZ subzones in operation, two in Texas (Baytown and Beaumont) and one in Louisiana, where within FTZ-154, ExxonMobil operates a main refinery complex, a petrochemical plant, a tank farm storage facility and a plastics plant in East Baton Rouge Parish, a lubricants plant and a tank farm in West Baton Rouge Parish and the Sorrento Salt Dome in Ascension Parish. The company employs more than 6,600 employees and contractors in the Baton Rouge area, with payroll totaling $491 million.

Despite the exemptions from state and local ad valorem taxes made possible by the FTZ, ExxonMobil’s activities in the Baton Rouge generate millions in annual state and local tax revenue, from property taxes ($33.2 million in East Baton Rouge alone in 2015), to direct sales taxes ($26.3 million in East Baton Rouge), to other state and local taxes (more than $100 million, after credits and rebates). According to a 2017 study, one out of every eight jobs in the Baton Rouge area can be traced back to ExxonMobil. 

FTZ-26

(Newnan, Georgia; Georgia Ports Authority; Port of Savannah)

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. of America (YMMC), which has corporate offices in Cypress, California, and Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia, decided in 2011 to take advantage of more efficient production that would result from a centralized location, including one that benefits from the efficiencies offered by the FTZ
program. Thus began the transfer of nearly all YMMC mid- and large-engine ATV production from overseas facilities to Newnan, Georgia. Yamaha directly employs about 3,400 workers in the U.S., but more than 2,000 of them are in Georgia alone, with approximately 1,600 within FTZ-26.

Newnan’s factories spend over $170 million annually at more than 100 U.S. parts suppliers, 30 percent of which are located in Georgia. By 2018, Yamaha had invested more than $354 million in its Newnan facility, with that spending rippling through the local community and beyond. Meanwhile, savings YMMC reaps within FTZ-26 have been fed back into the local community, including Yamaha-sponsored environmental projects for schools, youth character-building initiatives, scholarships for high school students and support for local teachers. 

FTZ-86

(Tacoma, Washington; Northwest Seaport Alliance; Port of Tacoma)

Helly Hansen imports from Asia specialty water-resistant cold weather apparel and footwear for professionals working in extreme environments. The Helly Hansen brand had a strong presence in Canada when its Norwegian owners looked to expand beyond the Great White North to all of North America. Savings afforded by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone program tipped the scales in favor of making Auburn, Washington, which is within the Port of Seattle’s FTZ-5, the location for Helly Hansen’s U.S. warehouse in 2011.

Four years later, growth spurred the need to open a bigger warehouse and a location was found within the Port of Tacoma’s FTZ-86, where all operations consolidated. About 55 percent of Helly Hansen’s imports into Tacoma are re-exported to Canada, and the company pays no duties on those products. It does pay U.S. import duties on products destined for the U.S. market, when they exit the FTZ for U.S. sale, but while products wait at the warehouse, the company saves money from deferred duty (the value of tighter cash flow and reduced interest costs) and reduced processing fees. The Canadian Tire Corp. purchased Helly Hansen in 2018, and the company now employs 103 people in Tacoma, up from about 50 in Auburn in 2011. Indirectly, the company supports jobs at the port processing 400-500 containers a year, containers that would otherwise go directly to Canada. 

FTZ-18 and FTZ-45

(San Jose, California; Port of Oakland; Portland, Oregon; Port of Portland)

Fremont, California-based Lam Research Corp., a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to semiconductor manufacturers around the world, creates, assembles, repairs and distributes equipment within San Jose’s FTZ-18 (since 2010) and Portland’s FTZ-45 (since 2016). Around 6,000 employees work in zone-based activities. Components and materials sourced from abroad are admitted free of duty under the FTZ program; those duties would otherwise range from zero to 10.7 percent. Lam estimates that program benefit alone saves the company a significant amount of its import costs. But the FTZ has also helped Lam manage fluctuations in supply chain and international trade. The company has poured zone savings into research and development throughout the U.S.

FTZ-25

(Oakland Park, Florida; Port Everglades)

ProdecoTech, which makes electric bicycles that retail for $1,000 to $5,000 each, was founded in 2008. It would not now employ about 100 people in Oakland Park, Florida, were it not for the FTZ program. ProdecoTech bikes used to be finished abroad, but that changed in 2015, when the company began taking components imported from China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam and elsewhere in the U.S. to assemble the rides in Oakland Park.

Thank the benefits from being within FTZ-25, which allowed ProdecoTech to avoid paying import duties that can range up to 10 percent. Keeping final assembly stateside as opposed to overseas is now saving the company about 4 percent per bike. And that has allowed ProdecoTech to sell goods 30 percent below what its competition charges. Because American workers are doing the assembly, ProdecoTech has a tighter rein on quality control. 

FTZ-272

(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Port of Philadelphia)

Piramal Critical Care Inc. was a U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer that could no longer compete paying tariffs on imported inputs while its foreign competitors shipped finished products here duty free. That put a target on the jobs of 95 employees in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where they manufactured and distributed inhalation anesthetics from chemicals and other materials sourced from abroad, primarily India.

After toying with eliminating 70 high-skilled positions and moving production abroad, Piramal launched a Hail Mary by applying for FTZ benefits in 2012. The application was approved, and it has saved Piramal hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in duties. Not only was the company able to stay in Bethlehem, it went on to add even more jobs, modernize its facility and increase capacity three-fold. Piramal today employs about 120 workers and exports to more than 100 countries. 

FTZ-176

(Rockford, Illinois; Port of Rockford)

UniCarriers Americas, which was previously known as Nissan Forklift Corp., sought approval to manufacture rider-type forklift trucks in Rockford, Illinois’ FTZ-176 in 2005. Imported components, which accounted for about 48 percent of the finished forklift truck’s value, were charged duties as high as 9 percent. After contending FTZ benefits would improve UniCarriers’ competitiveness in export markets, the company won approval in 2006. That has gone on to save UniCarriers about $2 million a year, according to the company, which adds employee time spent on handling and filing documents daily for U.S. Customs and Border Protection was eliminated. That’s a win-win when you consider a booming U.S. economy and e-commerce have created strong demand for forklift trucks.

Fortunately, UniCarriers has redirected some duty savings into adding space and employees as well as funding training for a workforce operating ever more sophisticated new equipment. Whereas many manufacturers are replacing workers with robots, UniCarriers is retraining and redeploying employees to work and train alongside automation, according to CEO and President James J. Radous III. He cites figures that show UniCarriers has increased its automation capabilities by 50 percent while doubling its number of employees from about 300 to 600 over the past five years. 

The preceding were the success stories cited in The Trade Partnership report, but there are also other foreign trade zone success stories out there that include the following:

FTZ-84

(Houston, Texas; Port Houston)

FTZ-84 was on a roll in 2017, adding 13 companies, which is no surprise when you consider the Houston region’s rapid growth. As a result, more large importers and exporters are taking the advantage of the financial benefits of using FTZ-84.

One company reaping such benefits is Houston-based Dixie Cullen Interests, which specializes in steel, machinery and other industrial materials. “We are excited about the opportunity that it has opened up for us,” says Dixie Cullen’s President Catherine James. “And we know that Port Houston is where we need to be.” That’s especially true when you consider Port Houston, which owns or operates eight terminals, has committed to invest $1 billion-plus during the next several years in expansion and improvement projects. About two-thirds of all containers in the U.S. Gulf move through Houston, whose port is one of the world’s largest.

FTZ-87

(Lake Charles, Louisiana; Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance; Port of Lake Charles)

The five parish area bordered by Southeast Texas and the Gulf of Mexico is anchored by Sulphur and Lake Charles, where companies from the U.S., Europe, Africa and Asia have staked claims in industrial growth expansion totaling $97 billion.

An extensive rail network makes its way through Southwest Louisiana with Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern servicing the area. Interstates 10 and 210 service a combined 100,000 motorists a day and complete routes between America’s Pacific and Atlantic Coast. And Lake Charles Regional Airport is served by United Airlines, whose hub is in Houston, and American Airlines with its Dallas/Fort Worth hub. But the region has more going for it than simply location, according to George Swift, CEO and president of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “Our people and companies are making history,” he says. “Each day that passes, companies from across the globe are calling to learn about development and expansion possibilities while others call about the tens of thousands of temporary and permanent jobs that are going to be generated by industrial expansion.”

FTZ-74

(Baltimore, Maryland; Baltimore Development Corp.; Port of Baltimore)

FTZ-74 is one of the most active and largest zones in the United States, which is fitting considering the Port of Baltimore is among America’s 10 busiest ports. With merchandise such as cars, paper and steel, total FTZ-74 international revenue rose from $44 million in 2016 to more than $396 million in 2017, a whopping 800 percent increase! The total value of shipments through Baltimore’s FTZ was more than $19.9 billion in ’17. That only figures to rise as Maryland recently approved a contract to complete the fill-in of a wet basin at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s Fairfield Marine Terminal.

That project will create more land to help handle the port’s surging auto and roll on/roll off (farm and construction machinery) cargo. Among those as pleased as a Baltimore Bang cocktail over this development is Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “The Port of Baltimore is the number one auto port in the nation and continues to break cargo records every month,” Hogan says. “Our administration is committed to furthering this growth and strongly supports our great port and its thousands of hardworking men and women handling the millions of tons of cargo coming in throughout the year.”

FTZ-196

(Fort Worth, Texas; AllianceTexas; Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport)

Known as the Alliance Foreign-Trade Zone, FTZ-196 in North Fort Worth sees more action than any other general purpose FTZ in the country. AllianceTexas is a 17,000-acre, master-planned community anchored by the world’s first industrial airport. Also within its boundaries are the Alliance Global Logistics Hub, Circle T Ranch, Heritage, Alliance Town Center, Saratoga and Monterra Village projects. A total of 265 companies that have created more than 30,000 jobs. Among them are Cinram, Hyundai, LEGO, Motorola, GENCO ATC, Callaway Golf and Alliance Operating Services.

Since its inception, AllianceTexas has generated a $40.65 billion economic impact for the North Texas region. Steve Boecking, vice president of Hillwood Properties, the Perot company that developed the Alliance brand, says of the $4 billion in annual FTZ-196 imports: “Regional efforts to strengthen international relationships and to build new global trade partnerships have also resulted in an increased volume of foreign goods being shipped through North Texas.” 

THE POWER OF POSITIVITY

The National Association of Foreign Trade Zones study found the following positive economic measures when examining each of 251 Zone Economic Communities (ZECs) to determine the impact of foreign trade zones:

-Employment, wages and value-added increased in the broader zone community following the establishment of an FTZ. Those gains are the greatest in the early years for employment and wages, and throughout the period for value added. This increased economic activity is also evident once a decision is made to form an FTZ.

-The establishment of an FTZ caused a positive increase in employment growth in the surrounding ZEC (up 0.2 percentage points), wage growth (up 0.4 percentage points), and value-added growth (up 0.3 percentage points), typically eight years and later, after establishment of the FTZ. The impacts begin sooner, in years six and later, for wages and value added in small- and medium sized ZECs.

-Company access to FTZ benefits had a substantial ripple effects through the companies’ supply chains, which are typically located nearby. 

Downloaded the complete report at www.naftz.org.