FTZ Board Grants Port of Houston Expansion of FTZ #84

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the result of its consideration of an application, filed Sept.10, 2008, submitted by the Port of Houston Authority, to expand its zone to include six additional sites in the Houston, Texas area. The board therefore is granting authority to expand FTZ #84 as described in the application and Federal Register notice. The grant is subject to the FTZ Act and the board's regulations of a 2,000-acre activation limit for the overall general-purpose zone project and further subject to a sunset provision that would terminate authority on May 31, 2014 for Sites 17 - 22, where no activity has occurred under FTZ procedures before that date.

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FTZ Board Grants ZF Lemforder Corporation Authority for FTZ #38 Subzone Status

In a notice published in the Federal Register on June 3, the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board granted authority for subzone status for activity related to assembly of automotive suspension systems at the ZF Lemforder Corporation facility located in Spartanburg, SC (Subzone 7), as requested by the South Carolina Ports Authority, grantee of FTZ #38. The application was formally filed on April 30, 2008.

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FTZ Board Grants Michelin North American Authority for FTZ #50 Subzone Status

In a notice published in the Federal Register on May 20, the Foreign-Trade Zones Board granted authority for subzone status for activity related to tire warehousing and distribution at the Michelin North America, Inc. facility located in San Bernardino, California, as requested by the Board of Harbor Commissioners of the Port of Long Beach, grantee of FTZ #50. The application was formally filed on May 28, 2008.

The FTZ Board adopted the findings and recommendations of the examiner's report and found that the requirements of the FTZ Act and the board's regulations were satisfied and that approval of the application was in the public interest. The subzone status is subject to the FTZ Act and the board's regulations.

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Approval for Expansion of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, grantee of FTZ 222, has requested authority on behalf of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA), LLC to expand the scope of manufacturing authority (additional engine capacity) conducted under zone procedures within Subzone 222A at the HMMA facility in Montgomery, Alabama.

The application to expand the scope of the manufacturing authority under zone procedures is approved, subject to the Foreign-Trade Zones Act and the Foreign-Trade Zone Board.

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Reorganization and Expansion Sought for Virginia's FTZ-20

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board by the Virginia Port Authority, grantee of FTZ #20, requesting authority to reorganize and expand the zone project within the Norfolk Customs and Border Protection port of entry. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act and the regulations of the Board. The zone project consists of eighteen sites in the Hampton Roads area, with an overall increase of 639 acres in the total zone space. The sites will provide warehousing and distribution services to area businesses. No specific manufacturing authority is being requested at this time.

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Proposed FTZ in Kern County, California

An application has been submited to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board by the County of Kern Department of Airports to establish a general-purpose foreign-trade zone at sites in Kern County, California. Meadows Field Airport in Kern County has been designated by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as a user fee airport. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the FTZ Act and the regulations of the Board. It was formally filed on April 28, 2009.

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Reorganization and Expansion Sought for Kansas City's Foreign-Trade Zone #15

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board by the Greater Kansas City Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc (grantee of FTZ 15) requesting authority to reorganize and expand the zone in the Kansas City, Missouri, area within the Kansas City Customs and Border Protection port of entry. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act and the regulations of the Board. It was formally filed on April 8, 2009.

In accordance with the Board's regulations, Christopher Kemp of the FTZ staff has been designated examiner to investigate the application and report to the Board.

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Expansion Sought for Kentucky's Foreign-Trade Zone #29

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board by the Louisville and Jefferson County Riverport Authority, grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone #29, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the aluminum foil liner stock manufacturing plant and warehouse of Reynolds Packaging LLC (Reynolds), located in Louisville, Kentucky. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR part 400). It was formally filed on March 25, 2009.

FTZ procedures could exempt Reynolds from customs duty payments on the foreign aluminum converter foil used in export production (about 15% of annual shipments). On domestic shipments, the company would be able to elect the duty rate that applies to finished aluminum foil liner stock (duty free) for the foreign aluminum converter foil. Reynolds would also be exempt from duty payments on any aluminum foil for consumer use that becomes scrap or waste during the repackaging activity. The application indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the facilities’ international competitiveness.

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