A bond of a foreign trade zone operator must contain the conditions listed in this section and must be a continuous bond.

Foreign Trade Zone Operator Bond Conditions

If the principal is authorized to operate a foreign trade zone or subzone:

(a) Receipt, Handling, and Disposition of Merchandise. The principal agrees to comply with:

(1) The law and CBP regulations relating to the receipt (including merchandise received and receipted for transport to his zone), admission, status, handling, transfer, and removal of merchandise from the foreign trade zone or subzone, and

(2) The CBP regulations concerning the maintenance of inventory control and recordkeeping systems covering merchandise in the foreign trade zone or subzone. If the principal defaults and the default involves merchandise other than domestic merchandise for which no permit for admission is required, the obligors (principal and surety, jointly and severally) agree to pay liquidated damages equal to the value of the merchandise involved in the default, or three times the value of the merchandise involved in the default if the merchandise is restricted or prohibited merchandise or alcoholic beverages, or such other amount as may be authorized by law or regulation. It is understood and agreed that whether the default involves merchandise is a determination made by CBP, that the amount to be collected under this condition will be based upon the quantity and value of the merchandise as determined by CBP, and that value as used in these provisions means value as determined under 19 U.S.C. 1401a. If the principal defaults and the default does not involve merchandise, the obligors agree to pay liquidated damages of $1,000 for each default, or such other amount as may be authorized by law or regulations.

(b) Agreement to Pay Duties, Taxes, and Charges. The obligors agree to pay any duties, taxes, and charges found to be due on any merchandise, properly admitted to the foreign trade zone or subzone, which is found to be missing from the zone or cannot be accounted for in the zone, it being expressly understood and agreed that the amount of said duties, taxes, and charges will be determined solely by CBP.

(c) Agreement to comply with Importer Security Filing requirements. The principal agrees to comply with all Importer Security Filing requirements set forth in part 149 of this chapter including but not limited to providing security filing information to CBP in the manner and in the time period prescribed by regulation. If the principal defaults with regard to any obligation, the principal and surety (jointly and severally) agree to pay liquidated damages of $5,000 for each violation.

(d) Reimbursement and Exoneration of the United States. The obligors agree to:

(1) Exonerate the United States and its officers from any risk, loss, or expense arising from the principal's operation of the foreign trade zone or subzone;

(2) Pay the compensation and expenses of any CBP Officer, as required by law or regulations.

(e) Payment of Annual Fee. The principal agrees to pay timely any annual fee or fees as provided in the CBP regulations. If the principal defaults, the obligors agree to pay liquidated damages equal to the amount of the annual fee due but not paid and an amount equal to one percent of the annual fee for each of the first seven days the annual fee is in arrears, two percent of the annual fee for each of the succeeding seven days the annual fee is in arrears, and three percent of the annual fee for each day thereafter in which the annual fee is in arrears.

[T.D. 84-213, 49 FR 41171, Oct. 19, 1984, as amended by T.D. 86-16, 51 FR 5063, Feb. 11, 1986; T.D. 88-72, 53 FR 45902, Nov. 15, 1988; T.D. 94-81, 59 FR 51495, Oct. 12, 1994; T.D. 01-26, 66 FR 16854, Mar. 28, 2001; CBP Dec. 08-46, 73 FR 71781, Nov. 25, 2008; CBP Dec. 15-15, 80 FR 70169, Nov. 13, 2015]