Monday, May 11, 2009

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.

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.

To read the full article, please visit Import Industry News.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

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.

For more details on the proposed zone, please visit Export Industry News.

Monday, May 4, 2009

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.

Application for Expansion of FTZ-75 in Phoenix, Arizona

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board by the City of Phoenix, Arizona, grantee of FTZ 75, requesting authority to expand the zone project within the Phoenix Customs and Border Protection port of entry. It was formally filed on April 23, 2009.

The applicant is requesting authority to expand the general-purpose zone to include the jet fuel storage and distribution system at, and adjacent to, the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona (Proposed Site 5). The system includes the off-airport terminal, airport terminal, subsurface pipeline and airport hydrant fueling system. These facilities consist primarily of storage tanks, pipelines, pumps, valves, filters, meters and related equipment. The system is operated by Airport Fueling Facilities Corporation, which is a consortium of airlines that service the airport. No specific manufacturing authority is being requested at this time. Such requests would be made to the Board on a case-by-case basis.

To read the full article, please visit Trading Markets.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

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.

One Local Company Operates One of the Busiest FTZs in the US

World Warehouse and Distribution Executive Vice President Bill Glaude said the company has been told by local Customs and Border Protection officials that U.S. Foreign Trade Zone #54, which takes up 111,000 square feet of its Champlain facilities, is the most active Foreign Trade Zone in the United States.

The largest part of that activity involves a distribution project for Modelo Molson Imports L.P. Modelo Molson Imports was formed in 2008 to import, distribute and market the Modelo portfolio of beers throughout Canada.

World Warehouse has handled Modelo Molson's shipments to Canada's Maritime provinces and Ontario since late April 2008. The brands include Corona, Corona Light and Negra Modelo.

"We average 2,000 ocean containers a year in-bound," Glaude said. "That equates to about 3.5 million cases of beer."

That means approximately 2,000 container loads of Corona, Corona Light and Negra Modelo beer, about 3.5 million cases, passed through the Clinton County Foreign Trade Zone last year.

To read the full article, please visit Press Republican.