[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 18, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 26933-26934] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-12505] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board (Docket 19-99) Foreign-Trade Zone 93-Durham, North Carolina; Application For Foreign-Trade Subzone Status; Philips Monitor Raleigh (Computer Monitors and Related Peripheral Products), Durham, NC An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Triangle J Council of Governments, grantee of FTZ 93, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the manufacturing facilities (computer monitors and related peripheral products) of Philips Monitor Raleigh (Philips), located at sites in the Durham, North Carolina, area. 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 6, 1999. The Philips facilities (16 acres, 168,000 sq. ft.) are located at 627 and 701 Distribution Drive, Durham, North Carolina. The facilities (200 employees) are currently used for the manufacture of computer monitors. The application indicates that products which may be produced at the plant in the future include: computer keyboards; computer speakers (internal and external); computer video cameras (internal and external); computer microphones (internal and external); USB hubs, ports, cables and connectors; ``ultra-thin clients;'' LCD monitors; and computer mouses. Some of the components used in manufacturing computer monitors are purchased from abroad (an estimated 63% of finished product value), including connectors, screws, knobs, springs, metal plates, brackets, cable ties, lenses, sliders, wire harnesses, power cords, degauss coils, cables, and cathode ray tubes (duty rates on these items range from 1.9% to 6.5%). The company also uses a number of foreign-sourced items that are duty free. Zone procedures would exempt Philips from Customs duty payments on foreign components used in export production. On domestic shipments, the company would be able to defer Customs duty payments on foreign materials, and to choose the duty rate [[Page 26934]] that applies to the finished products (computer monitors are duty free) instead of the rates otherwise applicable to the foreign input materials (noted above). The company would also be exempt from duty payments on foreign merchandise that becomes scrap/waste. FTZ procedures will help Philips to implement a more cost-effective system for handling Customs requirements (including reduced brokerage fees and Customs merchandise processing fees). FTZ status may also make a site eligible for benefits provided under state/local programs. The application indicates that the savings from zone procedures would help improve the plant's international competitiveness. 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 19, 1999. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to August 2, 1999. 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, 400 West Market Street, Suite 102, Greensboro, NC 27401 Dated: May 6, 1999. Dennis Puccinelli, Acting Executive Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-12505 Filed 5-17-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P