County receives approval for trade-zone sites
County receives approval for trade-zone sites
Four locations around airport to become customs-free areas
By Scott BandleTuesday, February 17, 2009 3:14 AM CST
North County could play a big role in turning St. Louis into a Midwestern hub for foreign trade.
The U.S. Department of Commerce last week gave approval to the St. Louis County Port Authority to establish four new sites in the Foreign Trade Zone around Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Within these zones, foreign products can come into the country without facing customs duties.
The sites are NorthPark, a 550-acre development east of the airport; the Hazelwood Commerce Center, a 170-acre industrial park northwest of the airport; the Lindbergh Distribution Center, a 528,000-square-foot warehouse at McDonnell and Lindbergh boulevards; and a 75-acre site next to the airport on
Banshee Road.
Inside these expansion sites are designated areas with existing businesses, ongoing developments and land that will be developed to attract new businesses. Backers say expansion will increase employment and investment opportunities by international businesses.
The decision is good news for all groups working to bring trade to the
St. Louis area, said Michael Jones, chairman of the China Hub Commission. The commission consists of local and state leaders who are working to establish trade ties with
China.
"St. Louis County made the application (to the Department of Commerce), but we're both on the same lines," Jones said. "This is a necessary prerequisite for all of us. It's the foundation for our goals to make St. Louis and the Midwest more open to foreign trade."
China wants to expand its markets in the United States, he said.
"For example, China is well-situated on each coast," Jones said. "However, half of our nation's economy is in the Midwest. A lot of trade travels by air. The question is, how do more American manufacturers get easier access to China and other countries?"
Located in the country's center, St. Louis is in a good position to act as a hub, Jones said. It is relatively close to many major cities and their airports.
Although work has just begun to attract foreign trade, Jones believes persistence and patience are the keys to making deals with China and other countries.
"We're going to spend the next 12 to 15 months to make the business case to China that this will work," he said. "We're all going to have to work hard."
