[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57405-57406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25163]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 47-2003]


Foreign-Trade Zone 37--Orange County, New York; Request for 
Manufacturing Authority, Minolta Advance Technology, Inc. (Toner 
Products)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by Orange County, New York, grantee of FTZ 37, on behalf of 
Minolta Advance Technology, Inc. (Minolta), requesting authority to 
manufacture bulk toner and toner cartridges under FTZ procedures within 
FTZ 37--Site 7. The application was formally filed on September 23, 
2003.
    The Minolta facility is located at (1 bldg., 88,039 sq. ft. (with a 
possible 125,000 sq. ft. to be added in the future) on 19.2 acres). The 
plant (40 employees) produces bulk toner (HTSUS 3707, 6.5%), toner 
cartridges for computer printers (HTSUS 8473, duty-free) and 
photocopiers (HTSUS 9009, duty-free to 3.7%), and remanufactures toner 
cartridges (HTSUS 8473 and HTSUS 9009, duty-free to 3.7%).
    Foreign-sourced materials will account for some 40-80 percent of 
finished product value, and may include items from the following 
general categories: inorganic acids; artificial corundum; aluminum 
oxide; iron oxides; silicates; organo-sulfur compounds; heterocyclic 
compounds; other organic compounds; artificial and prepared waxes; 
chemical preparations for photographic uses, propylene/styrene/acrylic 
polymers; polyacetals; self-adhesive sheets/plates of plastics; other 
sheets/plates of plastics; plastic lids/stoppers; articles of 
vulcanized rubber, belts; paper and paperboard; cartons; paper; printed 
booklets and leaflets; seals and tapes for cartridges; aluminum foils; 
records, tapes and other recorded media; parts and accessories (other 
than carrying cases) for use with machines under HTSUS 8469 to 8472; 
parts sutiable for use with apparatus of HTSUS 8525 or 8528; electrical 
apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits.
    Zone procedures would exempt Minolta from Customs duty payments on 
foreign materials used in production for export. Some 12 percent of the 
plant's shipments are currently exported and are projected to increase 
to some 30 percent in the future. On domestic sales, the company would 
be able to choose the duty rates that apply to the finished products 
(primarily duty-free, and some up to 6.5%), rather than the duty rates 
that would otherwise apply to the foreign-sourced materials noted above 
(duty-free to 8 percent, weighted average 6.5%). At the outset, the 
company is requesting to manufacture toner cartridges for multi-
function printers (HTSUS 8473.40.8000, duty-free) from bulk toner 
(HTSUS 3707.90.3290, 6.5%) sourced abroad. The application indicates 
that the savings from zone procedures will 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 is invited from interested parties. Submissions 
(original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the

[[Page 57406]]

Board's Executive Secretary at one of the following addresses:
    1. Submissions Via Express/Package Delivery Services: Foreign-
Trade-Zones Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, Franklin Court 
Building--Suite 4100W, 1099 14th St. NW., Washington, DC 20005; or
    2. Submissions Via the U.S. Postal Service: Foreign-Trade-Zones 
Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, FCB--Suite 4100W, 1401 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    The closing period for their receipt is December 2, 2003. Rebuttal 
comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period 
may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to December 17, 
2003).
    A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be 
available for public inspection at the Office of the Foreign-Trade 
Zones Board's Executive Secretary at address Number 1 listed above, and 
at the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, 707 
Westchester Avenue, Suite 209, White Plains, New York 10604.

    Dated: September 23, 2003.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-25163 Filed 10-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P