Seattle, United States
Customs clearance in Seattle
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Seattle. Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
Industries in Seattle and how we support them
The Seattle region is a centre of commercial aircraft manufacturing, with large assembly sites in Everett and Renton and a wide supplier base. It is also home to major e-commerce and software companies and to a seafood industry that processes and ships catches from Alaska and the North Pacific. We support these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via SEA, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for aircraft parts and AOG situations, temperature-controlled transport for seafood, and FCL and LCL sea freight through the Northwest Seaport Alliance. Customs data is prepared before the cargo arrives.
Operational logistics facts for Seattle
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | Freighter and widebody service to Asia and Europe | Short great-circle routes across the North Pacific |
| Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle and Tacoma) | FCL/LCL containers to and from Asia, Alaska trade | Container gateway with intermodal rail to the Midwest |
| Paine Field (PAE) and Boeing Field (BFI) | Aircraft manufacturing and aerospace logistics | Close to assembly sites for urgent aircraft parts |
| Kent Valley warehouse district (SR 167 / I-405) | Distribution for the Pacific Northwest | Short trucking between airport, port and warehouses |
Airports, seaports and connections in Seattle
- AirportSeattle-Tacoma
SEA - SeaportNorthwest Seaport AllianceSeattle and Tacoma
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the main air cargo airport of the Pacific Northwest, with freighter and widebody connections across the Pacific to Asia and over the pole to Europe. King County International Airport, better known as Boeing Field (BFI), and Paine Field (PAE) in Everett are closely tied to aircraft manufacturing. By sea, the ports of Seattle and Tacoma operate their container business jointly as the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which is one of the main US gateways for trade with Asia and the main supply route to Alaska.
I-5 runs north-south through Seattle and Tacoma towards Vancouver and Portland, I-90 leads east across the Cascades, and I-405 and SR 167 serve the warehouse areas in the Kent Valley south of the city. BNSF and Union Pacific provide intermodal rail service from the Seattle and Tacoma terminals to the Midwest, so sea containers from Asia can continue inland without being trucked across the mountains.
Clearance through the Ziem network in the United States
In the United States, customs entries are filed by a partner team in the Ziem network. They work under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures; our operations desk prepares the shipment data and remains your contact for the whole shipment.
Customs clearance in the United States
Ziem network
Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from the United States we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the United States need an importer of record number and, for most formal entries, a customs bond.
Documents we check before shipping
Commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document and, where needed, certificates of origin, licences or permits. We check that descriptions, values and HS codes are consistent across all documents before the goods move.
Frequently asked questions
Who handles US customs clearance for shipments into Seattle?
Clearance is done by a partner team in the Ziem network, working under the Ziem Logistics brand, to our procedures and with the shipment data we prepare. You deal only with Ziem Logistics. Entries are filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through ACE.
Can containers from Tacoma be cleared further inland?
Yes. Containers can move in bond by rail from the Northwest Seaport Alliance terminals to an inland destination and be cleared there. Alternatively, clearance takes place at the port. We agree the option that fits your delivery plan before the vessel arrives.
What applies to aerospace parts imported via Seattle?
Aircraft parts are classified under the HTSUS like other goods, and certain civil aircraft parts may qualify for duty-free treatment if the conditions are met. Exports of some aerospace items fall under export control rules. Complete technical descriptions help with correct classification.