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.

Salt Lake City Foreign Trade Zone Launch Event and Educational Seminar

Plan now to attend the Salt Lake Foreign Trade Zone Launch Event, May 14 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Grand America Hotel, Imperial Ballroom B, where you will learn how you can use this important asset to defer, reduce or eliminate customs duties, improve cash flow, lower inventory costs and streamline customs procedures.

Cost is $20 and includes lunch. RSVP by May 8, 2009 to Amber Deibert at adeibert@edcutah.org with your credit card information and the number attending.

For more information on the Salt Lake City FTZ Seminar, please visit the Utah Pulse.

Foreign-Trade Zone Bill Passed Both Houses in Baltimore City's Annapolis

This year the City Administration did pretty well in Annapolis - of the 11 cross-filed bills introduced at the administration's request, only one was withdrawn. Seven passed through both the House and Senate, one of which being the Foreign-Trade Zone bill.

This emergency bill brings Baltimore into compliance with the definition of Foreign Trade Zone of the US Department of Commerce. Foreign Trade Zones are like the duty-free shop at the airport, except for companies!

The Baltimore City Paper provides a full list of the eleven bills discussed at this year's session.