CBP To Require Fingerprints For All Background Checks

We were informed yesterday by a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Officer that CBP Headquarters recently issued instructions to the field stating that all background checks now require fingerprints.  We will post additional details as they become available.

Approval of Manufacturing Authority Within Foreign-Trade Zone 50 Long Beach, CA; Phoenix MC, Inc. d/b/a Phoenix Motorcars, Inc. (Motor Vehicles)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Order No. 1622]

Approval of Manufacturing Authority Within Foreign-Trade Zone 50 Long Beach, CA; Phoenix MC, Inc. d/b/a Phoenix Motorcars, Inc. (Motor Vehicles)

    Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u) (the Act), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the following Order:

    Whereas, the Board of Harbor Commissioners of the Port of Long Beach, grantee of FTZ 50, has requested authority under Section 400.28(a)(2) of the Board's regulations on behalf of Phoenix MC, Inc. d/b/a Phoenix Motorcars, Inc., to assemble light-duty passenger electric vehicles under FTZ procedures within FTZ 50--Site 2, Ontario, California (FTZ Docket 40-2008, filed 6-13-2008);

    Whereas, notice inviting public comment has been given in the Federal Register (73 FR 34916, 6-19-2008);

    Whereas, the Board adopts the findings and recommendations of the examiner's report, and finds that the requirements of the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations are satisfied, and that approval of the application is in the public interest;

    Now, therefore, the Board hereby grants authority for the assembly of light-duty passenger electric vehicles within FTZ 50 for Phoenix MC, Inc. d/b/a Phoenix Motorcars, Inc., as described in the application and Federal Register notice, subject to the Act and the Board's regulations, including Section 400.28.

Click here for additional information.

Foreign-Trade Zone 203 Moses Lake, Washington, Application for Subzone, REC Silicon (Polysilicon and Silane Gas)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

(Docket 22-2009)

 

Foreign-Trade Zone 203 Moses Lake, Washington, Application for Subzone, REC Silicon (Polysilicon and Silane Gas), Moses Lake, Washington

   An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Port of Moses Lake Public Corporation, grantee of FTZ 203, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the polysilicon and silane gas manufacturing facility of REC Silicon, located in Moses Lake, Washington. 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 May 21, 2009.

    

The REC Silicon facility (425 employees, 219 acres, 10,500 metric ton capacity) is located at 3322 Road ``N'' NE, Moses Lake, Washington. The facility is used for the manufacturing and warehousing of solar grade polysilicon and silane gas using domestic and imported silicon metal (duty rate ranges from 5.3-5.5%). Pursuant to Section 400.33 of the Board's regulations, any silicon metal subject to antidumping or countervailing duties would be required to be admitted to the subzone in privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41).

    

FTZ procedures could exempt REC Silicon from customs duty payments on the silicon metal used in export production. The company anticipates that over 95% of polysilicon and 90% of silane gas shipped from the plant will be exported. On its domestic sales, REC Silicon would be able to choose the duty rates during customs entry procedures that apply to polysilicon and silane gas (duty rate ranges from duty-free to 3.7%) for the foreign inputs noted above. FTZ designation would further allow REC Silicon to realize logistical benefits through the use of weekly customs entry procedures. Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign status production equipment. The request indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the plant's international competitiveness.

    

In accordance with the Board's regulations, Elizabeth Whiteman of the FTZ Staff is designated examiner to investigate the application and report to the Board.

    

Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions (original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is July 27, 2009. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted  during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to August 11, 2009.

    

A copy of the application will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the Board's website, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.

    

For further information, contact Elizabeth Whiteman at Elizabeth_Whiteman@ita.doc.gov or (202) 482-0473.

Grant of Authority for Subzone Status; Grafil, Inc. (Carbon Fiber), Sacramento, CA

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Order No. 1620]

 

Grant of Authority for Subzone Status; Grafil, Inc. (Carbon Fiber), Sacramento, CA

    Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the following Order:

    Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones Act provides for ``* * * the establishment * * * of foreign-trade zones in ports of entry of the United States, to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, and for other purposes,'' and authorizes the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to grant to qualified corporations the privilege of establishing foreign-trade zones in or adjacent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry;

    Whereas, the Board's regulations (15 CFR part 400) provide for the establishment of special-purpose subzones when existing zone facilities cannot serve the specific use involved, and when the activity results in a significant public benefit and is in the public interest;

    Whereas, the Sacramento-Yolo Port District, grantee of FTZ 143, has made application to the Board for authority to establish special-purpose subzone status at the carbon fiber manufacturing plant of Grafil, Inc., located in Sacramento, California (FTZ Docket 37-2007, filed 8/14/2007);

    Whereas, notice inviting public comment has been given in the Federal Register (72 FR 48612, 8/24/07); and,

    Whereas, the Board adopts the findings and recommendations of the examiner's report, and finds that the requirements of the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations would be satisfied, and that approval of the application would be in the public interest, if approval were subject to the condition listed below;

    Now, therefore, the Board hereby grants authority for subzone status for activity related to the manufacture of carbon fiber at the Grafil, Inc., facilities, located in Sacramento, California (Subzone 143D), as described in the application and Federal Register notice, subject to the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations, including Section 400.28, and also subject to the condition that approval is for an initial period of five years, subject to extension upon review.

For further information visit, the FTZ Board website.

Proposal for Changes to the Format of Annual Reports Submitted to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

 

Proposal for Changes to the Format of Annual Reports Submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board

SUMMARY: The Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board is inviting public comment on a staff proposal to revise the format of annual reports that are submitted by zone grantees to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board. The revisions are intended to clarify the information that is being requested and focus on the information that is most important for oversight of the FTZ program. For comparison, the current format for annual reports is available on the FTZ Board's Web site -- accessible via http://www.trade.gov/ftz the ``Already in a Zone?'' section. Relative to the current format, a number of multiple-part questions have been broken out into separate questions for purposes of clarity and ease of use. In general, the amount of information being requested in the proposed format is reduced relative to the existing format.

Click here to view the article in its entirety.

Welcome to the Foreign-Trade Zone Blog

Welcome to the Foreign-Trade Zone Blog.  The purpose of the blog is to provide the latest news and information regarding FTZ's nationwide.  The site was created by FTZ consulting firm, Campbell Trade Group, Inc., to provide a centralized location for up-to-date information related to the FTZ Program.  Please visit our blog again soon for late-breaking FTZ news.