[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70819-70820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24185]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 49-2007]


Foreign-Trade Zone 22 Chicago, Illinois

Application for Subzone: Sony Electronics Inc. (Audio, Video, 
Communications and Information-Technology Products and 
Accessories), Romeoville, Illinois

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Illinois International Port District, grantee of FTZ 
22, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the warehousing and 
distribution facility of Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony), located in 
Romeoville, Illinois. 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 December 4, 2007.
    The Sony facility (50-150 employees, 25 acres, 562,624 square feet) 
is located at 99 North Pinnacle Drive, in Romeoville, Illinois. The 
facility is used for the storage, distribution, packaging, kitting, 
inspecting, testing and repair of audio, video, communications and 
information-technology products and accessories.
    Zone procedures would exempt Sony from customs duty payments on 
products that are re-exported. Some 5 percent of the products are re-
exported. On its domestic sales, the company would be able to defer 
duty payments until merchandise is shipped from the facilities and 
entered for consumption. FTZ designation would further allow Sony to 
utilize certain customs procedures resulting in increased efficiencies 
for its logistics and distribution operations. In addition, Sony is 
requesting authority to choose the duty rates during customs entry 
procedures that apply to kits and accessory sets, including digital 
camera and camcorder kits (duty rate ranges from duty-free to 2.1%) for 
the following imported components: memory sticks, digital still 
cameras, digital camcorders, refill paper packs, photo printers, DVD 
players, home theaters and rechargeable battery packs (duty rate ranges 
from duty-free to 4.5%). The company has also indicated that it will 
import soft carrying cases (HTS 4202 and 5911, duty rate ranges from 2-
17.6%), but that they will be admitted to the zone in privileged 
foreign status. The request indicates that the savings from FTZ 
procedures would

[[Page 70820]]

help improve the facility's international 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 
February 11, 2008. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to February 26, 2008.
    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, 200 West Adams 
Street, Suite 2450 Chicago, IL 60606.
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Room 2111, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20230.
    For further information, contact Elizabeth Whiteman at [email protected] or (202) 482-0473.

    Dated: December 4, 2007.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-24185 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S