[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 99 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27958-27959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13069]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 24-99]


Foreign-Trade Zone 76--Bridgeport, CT; Application for Subzone 
Davidoff of Geneva (CT), Inc. (Cigars, Tobacco Products and 
Accessories) Stamford, CT

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, grantee of FTZ 76, 
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the cigar, tobacco 
products and accessories distribution facility of Davidoff of Geneva 
(CT), Inc. (Davidoff), located in Stamford, Connecticut. 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 12, 1999.
    The Davidoff facility (80,000 sq. ft. on 10 acres), is located at 
650 West Avenue, Stamford, Connecticut. The facility (20 employees) is 
used for storage, inspection, packaging and distribution of cigars, 
tobacco and a variety of related accessories and gift items (e.g., 
humidors, wallets, sports bags made of leather and other materials, 
kitchenware, handkerchiefs, neckties, cutlery, stationery and other 
paper products, magnets, ball point pens, pocket lighters, and smoking 
pipes). A substantial portion of the proposed FTZ activity would 
involve inserting the cigars into aluminum tubes (HTSUS 7616.99.5090) 
and into paperboard (4819.20.0040) and wooden (4420.90.2000) boxes, and 
then adding labeling (4821.90.2000). The cigars, most of the packaging 
materials, labels, and gift items will be sourced from abroad.
    FTZ procedures would exempt Davidoff from Customs duty payments on 
products that are reexported. On its domestic sales, the company is 
seeking to apply the duty-free rate applicable to

[[Page 27959]]

cigars (CBI-duty free) to the foreign-sourced aluminum tubes and 
packaging materials (duty rate: free-4.1%). The company would also be 
able to defer duty payments on other foreign items noted above until 
the merchandise is transferred from the proposed subzone for Customs 
entry. In addition, FTZ status would make the facility eligible for 
certain local tax exemptions provided under state/local programs. The 
application indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help 
improve the facility's competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ 
staff has been appointed 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 23, 1999. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period (to August 9, 1999).
    A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be 
available for public inspection at each of the following locations:

U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, Suite 903, 213 
Court Street, Middletown, CT 06457-3346
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 
3716, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230

    Dated: May 14, 1999.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-13069 Filed 5-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P