CBLE Pass

Entry / Entry Summary · CBLE study guide

Foreign-trade zones

Zone status, admission, transfers, operator duties.

Common traps

Wrong answers on past exams cluster around a few beliefs. Here is each one, and what the rule actually says.

FTZ forms and identifiers

“Entry forms are used inside zones.”

The rule: CBP Form 214 admits goods; Form 216 applies to manipulate, manufacture, exhibit or destroy; zone-to-zone moves go in bond on CBP Form 7512; a zone lot number or unique identifier traces merchandise (146.23).

Remember: 214 admit, 216 manipulate, 7512 move.

19 CFR 146.32 · 19 CFR 146.52 · 19 CFR 146.66 · 19 CFR 146.23

FTZ operator deadlines

“A familiar period (7, 30, 60, 120 days) applies to zone procedures.”

The rule: A suspension hearing requested by the operator is held within 30 days of the request (146.82). The annual reconciliation report is prepared within 90 days after the end of the zone/subzone year (146.25(a)).

Remember: Hearing 30; reconciliation 90.

19 CFR 146.82 · 19 CFR 146.25(a)

Zone-restricted status limits

“Zone-restricted goods may be manufactured or returned to commerce.”

The rule: Zone-restricted merchandise may only be exported, destroyed, or stored; it cannot be manipulated into new articles or moved to domestic commerce except as the Board permits.

Remember: Export, destroy, store.

19 CFR 146.44

FTZ domestic status

“Unpaid previously imported goods can receive domestic status.”

The rule: Domestic status: U.S. goods with internal revenue taxes paid, previously imported goods with duty and tax paid, or goods previously entered free.

Remember: Duty paid or free, or U.S. goods.

19 CFR 146.43(a)

FTZ status choices

“Privileged or non-privileged foreign status makes goods 'exported' for drawback.”

The rule: Merchandise admitted for exportation, destruction or storage may receive zone-restricted status, which treats it as exported for drawback.

Remember: Drawback via FTZ = zone-restricted.

19 CFR 146.44 · 19 CFR 190.182

Retail trade in FTZs

“Any activity or sale can occur in a zone.”

The rule: No retail trade is allowed in a zone except under permits issued by the grantee and approved by the FTZ Board, and only for domestic, duty-paid or duty-free goods brought in from customs territory; storage, manipulation, manufacture, exhibition, destruction and transfers are allowed (19 U.S.C. 81o(d)).

Remember: No retail without Board approval.

19 U.S.C. 81o(d)

Try a past question

October 2026 CBLE, question 46

Speedy Transport has delivered an in-bond shipment to the foreign trade zone (FTZ) for Widgets Inc. Upon inspection of the high-security seal at time of unloading, it is determined that the seal has been compromised, cut, and reattached. After reporting the compromised seal to the port director, what shall the FTZ operator do next?

AReturn the shipment back to the arrival port.
BPrepare a certificate to waive the sealing requirement in accordance with 19 CFR 18.4(2).
CAffix the merchandise with a warning label or tag in accordance with 19 CFR 18.4(b)(3) before admitting the shipment into the FTZ.
DHold the vehicle or container and its contents intact pending instructions from the port director.
Show the answer and why

A. Incorrect. The operator does not return the shipment on its own.

B. Incorrect. There is no certificate to waive the seal requirement in this situation.

C. Incorrect. Labeling is not the required step.

D. Correct. With a broken seal the operator notifies the port director and receives instructions before unloading, keeping the conveyance and contents intact (19 CFR 146.40(a)(2)).

19 CFR 146.40(a) · 19 CFR 146.8 · law as of 2026-11-09

Practice this topic

CBLE Pass has all 44 past questions on foreign-trade zones with an explanation for every option, plus timed mock exams and drills on your weakest topics.

Open the app