DHL Global Forwarding, the freight division of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has added a new foreign trade zone (FTZ) location in the US – at JFK Airport in New York.

FTZs are secure areas, in which shipping goods are handled, that are supervised according to US Customers and Border Protection regulations. A benefit of FTZs is that they reduce, defer or mitigate the impact of tariffs and taxes.

DHL has increased its number of FTZs in response to customers' demands for comprehensive, appropriate end-to-end solutions in industry sectors including pharma, automotive and e-commerce.

DHL's FTZ network will also help to protect customers against the effects of fluctuating trade scenarios that face companies with operations in the US.

The new FTZ at JFK Airport is the seventh of DHL's to be implemented in the US. Other locations include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Miami, San Diego and Los Angeles.

David Goldberg, cheif executive of DHL Global Forwarding, US commented: “This newest FTZ location will further help customers minimize their duty exposure in an ever-changing customs landscape and support their future business growth objectives.”

“An FTZ is a vital resource for customers that want to compete in international trade,” said Marc Gephart, director of US customs product development and FTZ for DHL Global Forwarding. “Our continued investments in facilities, digital platforms and services will allow us to continue to help our customers navigate the changes and remain resilient and successful.”

In addition to DHL's seven FTZs, it also administers several other customer-operated or user specific FTZs across the nation.

Three additional FTZ locations – in El Paso, San Francisco and San Juan, Puerto Rico – are planned for 2020.