Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-07
Wheels Of Government
Wheels Of Government
Free Port Business Spurred
BY Foreign Trade Zones Board
By Jack Jonas

w SOC Vic OO1Ad4S ~ w OGklCTS--
as a boon to foreign trade.
Mr.. Marrone. as executive di-
rector. supervises the Foreign
Trade Zones Board. This is one
Of those Government agencies
which. though a shade below
cabinet level. plays an impor-
tant role in developing policy
and carrying out administrative
duties in these days Of complex
government.
The creation. last December.
Of the job Mr.. Marrone fills is
indicative Of the administra-
tion'S emphasis on the develop
ment Of foreign trade.
The boards work gets valua-
BILE dollars into the hands of
foreign observation-disclosures that
can be re-spent to buy Ameri-
can-made products. The last
fiscal year saw $146 million
change hands.
The trade that comes under
the boards scrutiny differs from
regular foreign commerce. The
trade flows through five ''free
ts'-where goods can be
landed, stored. processed, re-
shipped and even manufactured
without payment of customs
duties or going into bonded ware
houses.
Cuts Red Tape and Costs
In other words, the operation
is designed to cut red tape and
expense, and facilitate the
movement of goods in inter-
national trade.
It is Mr.. Marrone's job to spur
expansion of that business in
the existing trade zones. and,
if feasible. to help set up Others.
The free port" concept is not
new to world commerce, but it
is comparatively young in United
States commercial history. Sim
play stated. the foreign-trade
zones are ports within ports
areas set up at major seaports
where goods can be landed with
out going through customs reg
ulations.
The norts where such zones
onerate now are New York New
Orleans San Francisco Seattle
Wash and los Angeles Until
last wear there was . sixth
an inland zone at san Antonio's
airnort n Texas Ant the inter
est and fIa trade weref1,t great
enough, n, ssIn,,rrt. r.
Mr. Nfarvo,ee ~, ti,e san An.
tooin erif,rs.iaSiy,s,n3 rIner net ,nre-
cI,Ifie tlIt ~ lisl1naei,ii IF in
land forein,S -fFaSie vnnes II the
trade is areat enough I'd sup
port them
c..ot 49,, pos.;h;n.,
''
some shipping experts expect
Lnat lreSn-Water portS on the
Great Lakes Will qualify for for
zones II ana wnen the
81. Lawrence SeaWay opens tnat
area 70 larger ocean-going YES
se!S. 4oleoo ana DetrolI business
nave expressed interest
IN tile past III seGtlng up Iorelgn-
traue zones at tnose ports.
oaitlinore ano NorIoik. va
nave oeen oeemeo loeaI lor 1or-
elgn-I a ZONES, Iecause tlle
So So a. 20. soeo Will oOlA.e niso
of such zones.
The future is unlimited" Mr..
Marrone said.
Across Mr.. Marrone's desk in
the commerce Building, and that
OF Ihomas +. Lyons. the boards
executive secretary, come COM
paints ana inquiries ABOUT the
port operations
one Sucn inquiry last week was
from a DuCcn trader. VINO wanted
10 KNOW II ne could borrow the
necessary collars IN England to
pay storage ano nanollng 1eeS
az q tlaoe AoIle mere
Inc answer was that that
wouiu DC up 10 the banks IN
Englano-out the board sug-
geSGeo tnaI IL might be simpler
10 go anead and ship the goods,
tnen get loan from an Ameri-
can bank on the freight receipts
"a common practice.
Varied produ.ts u.,a,.a
r.o.o -:
az 1noSe poi's mi'llnl po,es nan
S ny 10y .ii.ig ION MaoagdScan
u. 800 ~, W Aisiiailis1an piStacnlo
,o.o .t,en aosaasases W men
to,... AN e;a ao4oa9 WIN oeaI III m
'e, 1aelolial Ciaoe are numerous.
rot olle Ciliae, gooos tnat en-
ter Inc zones are Tree from Gus
JOlIlS 0llIl6S SllHh nI1fV nnf