The US Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Zone Board recentlyadded 1,500+ acres the port's Foreign Trade Zone No. 86. Added toFTZ No.86 were Boeing Realty Corporation, Cascadia South Prairie,Greenwater Corporate Park, Lakewood Industrial Park, PuyallupIndustrial Park, Rainier Corporate, Randles Industrial Park,TransPacific Industrial Park, and Valley South Corporate Park.

The FTZ designation lets companies who operate on the propertiesto ship, store, manipulate and add value to imported goods whiledelaying or even eliminating payment of U.S. Customs duties. FTZsgenerate local employment and business revenue arising frominternational trade, while they boost international cargo volumesat the Port.

Port of Tacoma Commission President Ted Bottiger says extendingFTZ status to the private properties included in this expansionprovides a way for local workers and businesses to benefit from theinternational trade flowing through the Port. "We plan to work withthese property owners and managers, as well as their tenants, tohelp them make the most of their FTZ designation," says Bottiger.The benefits of the designation, explains Bottiger, include: