[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 93 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26776-26777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12883]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 24-98]


Foreign-Trade Zone 169--Manatee County, Florida Application For 
Foreign-Trade Subzone Status Aso Corporation (Adhesive Bandages) 
Sarasota County, Florida

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Manatee County Port Authority, grantee of FTZ 169, 
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the first aid dressings 
manufacturing facility (adhesive bandages, sterile pads, waterproof 
adhesive tapes) of Aso Corporation (Aso), located in Sarasota County, 
Florida. The application was submitted pursuant to 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 5, 1998.
    The Aso facility (65,000 sq. ft. on 38 acres) is located at 300 
Sarasota Center Blvd., within the International Trade Industrial Park, 
east of Sarasota (Sarasota County), Florida. The facility (148 
employees) is used for the manufacture of first aid dressings, 
including adhesive bandages, sterile pads, and waterproof adhesive 
tapes. However, the applicant is only requesting to use FTZ procedures 
for the production of adhesive bandages (HTSUS 3005.10.50) using 
foreign-sourced adhesive tape (HTSUS 3919.90.50).
    Zone procedures would enable Aso to choose the lower duty rate that 
applies

[[Page 26777]]

to the finished products (duty-free) instead of the duty rate that 
would otherwise apply to foreign adhesive tape (duty rate--5.8%). The 
application indicates that the savings from zone procedures would help 
improve the plant's competitiveness and increase exports.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ 
Staff has been designated examiner to investigate the application and 
report to the Board.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested 
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to 
the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing 
period for their receipt is July 13, 1998. Rebuttal comments in 
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be 
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to July 28, 1998. A copy 
of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be available for 
public inspection at each of the following locations:

Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Room 3716, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20230.
U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, 1130 Cleveland 
St., Clearwater, Florida 34615.

    Dated: May 7, 1998.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-12883 Filed 5-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P