[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 235 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70947-70948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20784]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

Docket T-5-2006


Foreign-Trade Zone 196 - Fort Worth, Texas, Application for 
Temporary/Interim Manufacturing Authority, Motorola, Inc. (Mobile Phone 
Kitting)

    An application has been submitted to the Acting Executive Secretary 
of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Alliance Corridor, 
Inc., grantee of FTZ 196, requesting temporary/interim manufacturing 
(T/IM) authority within FTZ 196, at the facilities of Motorola, Inc. 
(Motorola) located in Fort Worth, Texas. The application was filed on 
November 28, 2006.
    The Motorola facilities (3,800 employees, annual capacity for up to 
50 - 60 million mobile phone sets) are located at multiple locations 
(including those of affiliates and third-party contractors) within 
Sites 1 and 2 of FTZ 196, and include 4801 Westport Parkway and 15005 
Peterson Court, in Fort Worth, Texas. Under T/IM procedures, Motorola 
has requested authority to process (kit) certain imported components 
into mobile phone sets (HTSUS 8525.20 - the phones enter the United 
States duty-free). The company may source the following potentially 
dutiable components from abroad for processing under T/IM authority, as 
described in its application: batteries (HTSUS 8507.80), power supplies 
(HTSUS 8504.40), lithium batteries (HTSUS 8507.30), cables (HTSUS 
8544.41), housing assemblies (HTSUS 8529.90), and printed circuit 
connectors (HTSUS 8536.69). Duty rates on these inputs range from duty-
free to 3.4 percent, ad valorem. T/IM authority could be granted for a 
period of up to two years. Motorola has also submitted a request for 
permanent FTZ manufacturing authority (for which Board filing is 
pending), which includes a range of additional inputs.
    FTZ T/IM procedures would allow Motorola to elect the finished-
product duty rate for the imported components listed above. The 
application indicates that most of the FTZ savings would result from 
choosing the duty-free rate on mobile phones for imported batteries 
(HTSUS 8507.80, duty rate - 3.4%). The company indicates that it would 
also realize logistical/paperwork savings and duty-deferral savings 
under FTZ procedures. Motorola's application states that the above-
cited savings from zone procedures could help improve the company's 
international competitiveness.

[[Page 70948]]

    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions 
shall be addressed to the Board's Acting Executive Secretary at the 
following address: Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade 
Zones Board, Room 2814B, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; Tel: (202) 482-2862. The closing 
period for their receipt is January 8, 2007.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board's Executive Secretary at 
the address listed above.

    Dated: November 28, 2006.
Andrew McGilvray,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-20784 Filed 12-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S