Opportunity accelerated
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
FOREIGN TRADE ZONES
The National Association of Foreign- Trade Zones( NAFTZ) exists to support that ecosystem.
NAFTZ serves as a shared voice of the US foreign-trade zone community, connecting public- and private-sector stakeholders who make the program work. The association transforms that collective experience into education, advocacy and practical engagement with policymakers and regulators. Unified representation is essential to keeping our FTZs effective and responsive to the needs of modern trade.
Education is one of the association’ s most important responsibilities. The US FTZ program is technical, and successful participation requires more than a general understanding of customs rules. Members are provided tools to help understand the operational responsibilities that come with activation, from inventory control and admissions to entries, recordkeeping and reporting. NAFTZ supports that work through conferences, seminars, webinars, certification programs and peer learning.
As more companies evaluate supply chain risk, tariff exposure, and domestic investment decisions, NAFTZ education benefits a group wider than just current zone users. Programs are designed to enable the broader trade community to better understand when a US foreign-trade zone may be worth exploring. While not the right fit for every operation, when it is appropriate, an FTZ can be an important part of a larger supply chain strategy.
Advocacy is a central pillar of the NAFTZ mission. Working with federal agencies and Congress, the association representatives explain the real-world impacts of domestic policy and regulatory decisions. That perspective is critical because changes designed for the broader customs environment can create unique and unintended consequences for zone operations.
The advocacy work undertaken by NAFTZ is not focused on obtaining special treatment. It is about ensuring that the program functions as intended and that policymakers understand how it supports US jobs, investment, exports and competitiveness.
As tariff volatility and economic security discussions have brought greater attention to the trade tools available to US-based companies, NAFTZ’ s public-facing role has expanded. In those conversations, US FTZs have often been misunderstood or overlooked. NAFTZ clarifies that they are federally authorized, locally supported, highly regulated economic development and trade strategies.
As the trade environment continues to evolve, so must the US FTZ community. Businesses and stakeholders are looking for methods to help manage uncertainty, preserve flexibility and compete in a changing global marketplace; NAFTZ has served the US FTZ community for more than five decades and remains committed to helping it adapt and move forward. n
For more information, visit www. naftz. org.
Jeffrey J. Tafel, CAE, serves as president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones.
Opportunity accelerated
Ranked No. 13 in the nation based on foreign waterborne tonnage and No. 4 in Texas by the same measure, Port Freeport is accelerating opportunity. The port offers road and rail access and has the shortest channel— also expected to become the deepest— on the Gulf Coast. It also offers more than 350 acres of mitigated, shovel-ready land.
Known for reliable and flexible customer service, Port Freeport has experienced exponential growth and is undertaking strategic initiatives to provide customers with competitive expansion options while creating jobs and serving as a leading economic catalyst for the region and the state. One such initiative is the Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project, which comprises four reaches and will deepen and partially widen the channel from its current depth of 46 feet to between 51 feet and 56 feet at MLLW. The project was substantially completed in the first quarter of 2026.
Port Freeport serves its customers and stakeholders through state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a deepwater container terminal; a rail-served multimodal terminal for finished-vehicle processing, storage and distribution; quick, efficient connections to the state highway system and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway; Union Pacific rail service; and Foreign-Trade Zone No. 149. Together, these assets make the port a global gateway. The Velasco Container Terminal received two new super-post-Panamax gantry cranes in September 2025 to enhance and expand the port’ s container operations. As part of the expansion, Gate 12 opened adjacent to the port’ s refrigerated warehouse, Cross-Dock No. 1, creating a seamless connection to the terminal. The port plans to break ground on Cross-Dock No. 2 in the third or fourth quarter of 2026. The 84,000-square-foot facility will accommodate multiple temperature zones and provide critical infrastructure for the region. Completion is on track for 2027.
More than $ 325 million in infrastructure projects are underway at Port Freeport to accommodate larger vessels, increase commerce and generate greater economic impact. n
For more information about Port Freeport, visit PortFreeport. com or call + 1 800-362-5743.
42 Journal of Commerce | August 3, 2026 www. joc. com