Bonded port area

A bonded port area is a fenced, customs-controlled zone inside a port where imported goods sit under customs supervision with duties and taxes suspended until the cargo is cleared and removed. The customs authority licenses and inspects the area, so storage, handling, and movement follow strict customs rules, distinct from the lighter regime of a free-trade zone. Bonded areas are import-oriented and time-limited: a US customs bonded warehouse holds dutiable goods for up to five years from import. The bond and customs lock let a port defer duty, support re-export, and keep goods secure before clearance.