Charlotte Regional Partnership Named Grantee for FTZ 57

The Charlotte Regional Partnership has become the grantee and administrator for Foreign Trade Zone 57. Although designated "Mecklenburg County," FTZ 57 extends beyond the county's borders, including sites in Alexander, Cabarrus and Catawba counties.

The N.C. Department of Commerce requested that the public/private economic development organization provide the zone's oversight, so there was more direct regional involvement. Although FTZ 57 is the oldest in the state, it was the only one of the six North Carolina foreign trade zones that wasn't under local control.

"Although we always have promoted the FTZ as one of our regional assets, as the zone's administrator, we can more directly market and grow the foreign trade zone, as we work with existing industry and recruit new businesses to Charlotte USA," said Ronnie Bryant, Charlotte Regional Partnership president and chief executive officer.

Foreign trade zones offer tax and duty advantages to the existing industry and serve as an incentive to attract companies. Since FTZs are legally outside U.S. Customs territory, merchandise from anywhere in the world may enter a foreign trade zone without a formal customs entry or the payment of customs duties or government excise taxes.

Foreign trade zones can be a building or just a room, but they must be within 90 miles of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry. FTZ 57 includes 16 general purpose sites for public use, as well as two subzones that are company exclusive. Several additional sites are pending approval by the U.S. Foreign Trade Zones Board.

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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Expansion Sought for Louisiana's FTZ #124

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board by the Port of South Louisiana, grantee of FTZ #124, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the barite milling facility of Excalibur Minerals LLC, located in New Iberia, Louisiana. It was formally filed on May 6, 2009.

The Excalibur facility is used for activities related to the milling (heating, grinding, crushing), storage and distribution of ground barite, primarily for the US market. The material that would be purchased from abroad is raw barite, dutiable at $1.25 per metric ton.

FTZ procedures could excempt the company from customs duty payments on the foreign component used in export production. The company anticipates that less than 1% of the plant's shipments will be exported. On its domestic sales, Excalibur would be able to choose the duty rate during customs entry procedures that applies to the ground barite (duty free) for the foreign input noted above. FTZ designation would further allow Excalibur to realize logistical benefits through the use of weekly customs entry procedures, as well as savings from the elimination of duties on materials that become scrap/waste during manufacturing. The application indicates that the FTZ-related savings would help improve the facility's international competitiveness.

To read more, please visit Import Industry News.

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.

To read the full article, please visit Trading Markets.

TEDA Seeking Foreign-Trade Subzone Status

Once a year, community leaders from Terrebonne and Lafourche embark upon a mission to Washington, D.C. with hopes of persuading our federal leaders to help get funding for projects, change laws and consider federal applications. This year’s trip, organized by the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, began on March 29.

Focused on identifying and promoting opportunities for business and industry, Terrebonne Economic Development Authority's (TEDA) itinerary included meetings with the Department of Transportation’s marine administration, Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, Representative Charlie Melancon, Invest in America, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Labor, the Foreign Trade Zone-Department of Commerce, EX-IM Bank and the USDA.

Two meetings in particular, one with the Foreign Trade Zone-Department of Commerce, and another with EX-IM Bank, laid the foundation for immediate-action items upon Ferdinand’s return to Terrebonne. For three years, TEDA has pursued Foreign Trade Subzone status for several Terrebonne businesses.

“Its value is a marketing tool to attract and retain businesses to Terrebonne in order to manufacture, sell, and collect taxes on the items it produces,” Ferdinand commented.

In the meeting, several opportunities were realized for Terrebonne. As a result, TEDA is pursuing a new platform within the program for Terrebonne to receive FTZ status.

To read the full article, visit the Daily Comet.

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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http://blogs.officialexportguide.com/news/?p=2430