[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 20247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8034]



[[Page 20247]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

Docket 19-2008


Foreign-Trade Zone 26 Atlanta, GA, Application for Subzone 
Status, KIA Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (Motor Vehicles)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc., grantee of FTZ 26, 
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the motor vehicle 
manufacturing plant of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG), 
located in West Point, Georgia. 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 March 28, 2008.
    The KMMG plant (635 acres/2.4 million sq.ft.) is to be located at 
700 Kia Parkway in West Point (Troup County), Georgia. The facility, 
currently under construction, will be used to produce light-duty 
passenger vehicles (sedans, sport utility vehicles, minivans) for 
export and the domestic market. At full capacity, the facility (about 
2,500 employees) will manufacture up to approximately 350,000 vehicles 
annually. Components to be purchased from abroad (representing 
approximately 25% of total material inputs, by value) would include: 
oils, hydraulic fluids, pipe/tube of plastics, paint, plastic knobs, 
flexible rubber tubes/hoses, self-adhesive plastic or polyurethane 
sheets/foil/film, labels, tape, rubber belts, tires, gaskets, seals, 
floor mats, safety glass, mirrors, pipe fittings, stranded wire of 
steel and copper, pins, hangers, brake cables, body parts, trim parts, 
articles of base metals, doors, fasteners, cotter pins, helical 
springs, catalytic converters, locks and keys, spark-ignition and 
diesel engines, engine parts, pumps, compressors, air conditioner 
components, filters, valves, parts of steering systems, steering 
wheels, hubs and flanges, universal joints, clutches, half/drive 
shafts, transmissions and parts of transmissions, torque converters, 
differentials, bearings and parts thereof, compasses, thermostats, 
motors, batteries, ignition parts, electrical parts, lighting 
equipment, horns, windshield wipers, audio/video components, speakers, 
antennas, wiring harnesses, carpet sets, seats, seat belts, airbag 
modules/inflators, brake components, wheels, wheel locks, lug nuts, lug 
wrenches, suspension components, radiators, exhaust systems, hinges, 
pneumatic dampeners, speedometers, tachometers, voltmeters, flow 
meters, regulators/controllers, windshields, glass windows, resistors, 
relays, starters, clocks, spark plugs, and switches (duty rate range: 
free 9.0%).
    FTZ procedures would exempt KMMG from customs duty payments on 
foreign components used in export production (estimated to be 10% of 
plant shipments). On its domestic sales, KMMG would be able to choose 
the duty rate that applies to finished passenger vehicles (2.5%) for 
the foreign inputs noted above that have higher rates. Customs duties 
also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign status production 
equipment. The application indicates that the savings from FTZ 
procedures would help improve the facility's international 
competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Pierre Duy of the FTZ 
Staff is 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 Board's Executive 
Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is 
June 16, 2008. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to June 30, 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, 75 Fifth Street, 
N.W., Suite 1055, Atlanta, Georgia 30308; and, Office of the Executive 
Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 2111, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230-0002. For 
further information, contact Pierre Duy at [email protected], or 
(202) 482-1378.

    Dated: April 3, 2008.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-8034 Filed 4-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S