Foreign Trade Zone

Through the combined efforts of the City of Chesapeake and the Virginia Port Authority, nearly 1,000 acres of industrial property in the City of Chesapeake have been included as part of Foreign Trade Zone No. 20, now one of the largest in the United States.

Cavalier industrial Park, adjacent to Interstate 64 near the interchange of I-64, I-264 and I-664; and Chesapeake International Business Center, adjacent to I-664 near the Chesapeake Square Business District. Two city companies have nearly 1.5 million square feet of warehouse space included in the zone: the D.D. Jones Transfer and Warehouse Company, and the Givens Company, Inc.

Through the Foreign Trade Zone, both the City of Chesapeake and the Port of Hampton Roads expect to continue to increase import/export and manufacturing activities. Legally, these zones are outside U.S. customs territory, which means firms can import merchandise into the zone without paying tariffs. This imported merchandise can be stored, repackaged, mixed or used to make another product. Import duties are paid only on goods leaving the zones for domestic consumption. Companies can save money by delaying payment of duties or by assembling goods that have a lower duty payment than the sum of their parts.


Click here to go to the Foreign Trade Zone Resource Center