JAS IN THE AMERICAS

News From JAS Worldwide - Americas Focus

JAS Americas HQ

6195 Barfield Road

Atlanta GA, 30328

United States

Maximize Your Logistics Strategy with Our FTZs in the USA & Panama

By
April 15, 2025
Our Foreign-Trade Zones in the USA and Panama help you mitigate tariffs, manage costs, and stay agile in today’s evolving market.
Our Foreign-Trade Zones in the USA and Panama help you mitigate tariffs, manage costs, and stay agile in today’s evolving market.

As a trusted international freight forwarder, we understand the challenges that come with navigating global trade, especially with the recent announcement of reciprocal tariffs. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for businesses to stay agile and optimize their supply chains. We are excited to offer you strategic solutions through our Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs) in the USA and Panama to help mitigate tariff impacts and streamline your logistics.

Take Advantage of Our FTZs in the USA

Our FTZs located across the South, East, and West Coasts of the USA offer unparalleled benefits to help you manage costs, build inventory close to your end-consumer, and remain competitive. Here’s why you should consider utilizing these zones:

  • Duty & Tax Deferral: Import goods into the USA without paying duties and taxes when they are admitted to the FTZ. Duties are only paid when goods are entered for consumption  in the USA.
  • Duty Elimination: Goods admitted into zone status and subsequently re-exported from the US Customs territory are not subject to US import duties.
  • Inventory Management: Build up inventory close to your market without worrying about immediate tax and duty implications. This allows you to stay responsive to demand fluctuations, reducing costly delays and speeding up your time-to-market.
  • Reduced Costs: With the current uncertainties around reciprocal tariffs, using FTZs can help shield your goods from excessive duties, offering a buffer against tariff hikes that might otherwise impact your bottom line.
  • Strategic Locations: With our FTZs spread across key US regions, you can strategically position your inventory closer to major consumer markets, allowing for quicker distribution and reducing shipping costs.

Panama as a Key Logistics Hub for the Americas

Additionally, our operations in Panama provide you with access to one of the most important logistics hubs in the Americas. With direct access to the Colon Free Zone and proximity to major shipping routes, Panama offers several advantages for your logistics strategy:

  • Strategic Location: Positioned between North and South America, Panama serves as a gateway to both markets, offering a prime location for distribution throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and the USA.
  • Colon Free Zone: As one of the largest free zones in the world, the Colon Free Zone offers significant tax and duty exemptions, providing an ideal environment for goods transshipment, warehousing, and re-exportation.
  • Local Expertise: With our own offices and operations in Panama, we have a deep understanding of local regulations and logistics dynamics. We can help you navigate Panama’s benefits seamlessly, ensuring that your goods are efficiently moved through the region.
  • Reduced Tariffs & Import Taxes: Similar to FTZs in the U.S., Panama’s free zones allow companies to store, process, or re-export goods without paying duties or taxes upfront. Taxes and import duties are only due if the goods are eventually brought into Panama for local consumption — otherwise, they can be re-exported tax-free to their final destination.

Why This Matters Now

With the new reciprocal tariffs being announced, it’s critical to find ways to lower your exposure to these increasing costs. Both our USA FTZs and Panama operations provide solutions that allow you to store, manage, and distribute goods with significant cost savings, particularly when facing unpredictable tariff changes.

By leveraging our FTZs and Panama’s logistical advantages, you gain flexibility, efficiency, and a competitive edge in today’s rapidly changing global trade environment.

Let’s Talk!

Our team is ready to discuss how our FTZs in the USA and our Panama logistics hub can benefit your business. Don’t wait—take full advantage of these strategic locations and the opportunities they present during these uncertain times.

Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation with one of our experts!

Linkedin Logo

Latest News

JAS is pleased to announce two key leadership appointments—Manuele Mazzacurati as Interim Chief Commercial Officer and Angus Haig as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.

Atlanta, GA – August 1, 2025 – JAS is pleased to announce two leadership updates that reflect the company's continued focus on global growth, innovation, and delivering value to its customers.

Manuele Mazzacurati, currently serving as Executive Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing, has been appointed Interim Chief Commercial Officer following David Bang’s departure to pursue another opportunity outside the organization. With nearly 18 years at JAS, Mazzacurati brings a wealth of experience spanning operations, regional leadership, and global commercial strategy.

With a strong customer focus and a proven track record of success in diverse markets, he is well-positioned to lead the commercial organization through this transition. In this expanded role, Mazzacurati will continue to steer global sales efforts while ensuring continuity and alignment across JAS’s commercial priorities.

Angus Haig has also joined JAS as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. With more than 30 years of international legal and corporate experience, Haig brings strong expertise in global business law, compliance, and strategic counsel. He previously served as SVP & General Counsel at Cox Automotive and held senior legal roles during a 19-year tenure at The Coca-Cola Company.

Leveraging his collaborative approach and international experience, Haig will oversee legal and compliance matters across JAS’s operations, helping JAS stay aligned with its values while navigating an increasingly complex business environment.

“These appointments reflect the strength and depth of talent across our global team,” said Marco Rebuffi, President & CEO of JAS. “We thank David for his leadership in strengthening JAS's global presence and laying the foundation for sustainable growth. We are confident that Manuele and Angus will play pivotal roles in driving JAS forward as we continue to stay focused on what matters most—our customers, our people, and our shared future."

With these appointments, JAS continues to strengthen its global leadership team and remains committed to developing innovative, sustainable logistics solutions that meet today's needs while preparing for tomorrow's challenges.

-------

About JAS

JAS, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1978. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and supported by 7,000+ team members in more than 100 countries, it builds innovative and sustainable solutions that focus on customer needs and a better future for all. At the heart of JAS's success is its people, who deliver customer value. As one of the largest and fastest-growing privately-owned logistics companies, JAS is committed to creating opportunities for our communities, customers, and colleagues to thrive. Together.

Marco Rebuffi, CEO and President of JAS (left), and Ashley Taylor, Group CEO of Pentagon (right).

ATLANTA, July 27, 2025 – JAS, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, and Pentagon Freight Services ("Pentagon"), a highly specialized integrated Freight Forwarding, Project Logistics and Ships Agency provider headquartered in the UK, are pleased to announce the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA). This agreement represents a key step toward JAS's planned acquisition of Pentagon, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

"The Pentagon acquisition perfectly complements JAS's strategic goals, significantly increasing our ability to offer highly specialized logistics solutions for the oil and gas, marine, construction, and energy industries. We are looking forward to finalizing this acquisition to welcome Pentagon team members into the JAS family," said Marco Rebuffi, CEO and President of JAS.

"We are confident that JAS is the right company to expand our global network and achieve our growth ambitions. Our goal is to leverage our experience and continue to offer dedicated logistics solutions to our industry-leading clients. We look forward to growing stronger together with JAS," said Ashley Taylor, Group CEO of Pentagon.

Pentagon, headquartered in the UK, is a trusted provider of specialized freight forwarding, project logistics, and critical supply chain solutions for the oil and gas, energy, marine, and construction industries. With over 1200+ employees in 65 offices around the world, Pentagon's deep expertise and global reach will further enhance JAS's ability to deliver tailored, industry-specific solutions. This acquisition will strengthen JAS's position in these critical sectors, ensuring seamless and high-quality service that keeps complex customer operations moving across the globe.

Together, JAS and Pentagon will unlock new opportunities and deliver even greater value to customers by combining an expanded global network with a comprehensive portfolio of leading logistics solutions.

About JAS

JAS, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1978. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and supported by 7,000+ team members in more than 100 countries, JAS focuses on creating solutions that are innovative, sustainable, and tailored to customer needs. As a privately owned company, JAS is committed to creating opportunities for communities, customers, and colleagues to thrive.

About Pentagon

Pentagon is a highly specialized global Freight Forwarding, Project Logistics and Ships Agency provider with a worldwide network of over 1200 employees and 65 offices. Headquartered in the UK, Pentagon has more than 50 years’ experience in serving the oil and gas and energy sectors. Pentagon focuses on delivering globally integrated supply chain solutions with local expertise, individually tailored to customers’ operations and requirements.

With over 25 years of experience in the outdoor industry, JAS combines deep expertise, global reach, and a people-first mindset to help brands scale across channels and continents.

We’ve been deeply embedded in the outdoor industry for over 25 years, and that specialization really makes a difference. We understand the seasonal rhythms, the need for resilience in both product and process, and the expectations around quality. Our logistics solutions are truly omnichannel — we seamlessly support eCommerce, wholesale, and retail, and do so with technology that ensures speed, accuracy, and full visibility. Our experience with RAB is a great example of how we help brands scale and replicate success globally.

What role does technology play in delivering these capabilities?
Technology is absolutely central. Our platform is designed for easy integration, even with complex legacy systems, and gives our clients real-time visibility across the full supply chain. From customs brokerage to last-mile delivery, our systems support fast decision-making and efficiency. But technology alone isn’t enough — it’s the people behind it that drive value. That’s why our motto is “People make the difference.” It’s a mindset that shapes how we operate and how we partner.

Sustainability is a growing priority for brands and consumers. How do you integrate it into your logistics model?
For us, sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s fundamental. From optimizing transportation routes to reducing packaging waste, we look at every aspect of our operations through a sustainability lens. We’re constantly innovating to reduce environmental impact, while still meeting the speed and service demands of modern retail. And because we serve multiple regions through a single integration, we help brands consolidate and simplify their logistics footprint globally.

Looking ahead, how do you see your value evolving for outdoor brands in a rapidly changing global market?
Outdoor brands are growing fast and going global — and they need logistics partners who can keep up. Our value lies in enabling rapid deployment, scalability, and consistency across markets like the UK, EU, USA, and Australia. Whether a brand is launching a new channel or expanding into a new region, we make that growth easy. We’re outdoors people ourselves, and that gives us a genuine understanding of the mission behind the products we help move. It’s more than logistics — it’s partnership, performance, and purpose.

Our Sites use cookies for analytics purposes. For more information about the cookies we use on our Sites or how you can disable them, please see our Cookie Policy.