[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79048-79049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30684]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

Docket 72-2008


Foreign-Trade Zone 26 Atlanta, GA, Request for Manufacturing 
Authority, 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, 
pursuant to Section 400.28(a)(2) of the Board's regulations (15 CFR 
Part 400), requesting authority on behalf of Kia Motors Manufacturing 
Georgia, Inc. (KMMG), to produce light-duty passenger vehicles under 
FTZ procedures within FTZ 26. It was formally filed on December 16, 
2008.
    The KMMG plant (635 acres/2.4 million sq.ft.) is to be located at 
7777 Kia Parkway in West Point (Troup County), Georgia (FTZ 26, Site 
T2). The facility, currently under construction, will be used to 
produce sedans, sport utility vehicles, and minivans for export and the 
domestic market. At full capacity, the facility (about 2,500 employees) 
will manufacture up to approximately 300,000 vehicles annually. 
Components to be purchased from abroad (representing up to 30% 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, carpet sets, 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, seats, seat belts, 
airbag modules/inflators, brake components, wheels, wheel locks, lug 
nuts, lug wrenches, suspension components, radiators, flat-rolled steel 
mill products (steel mill products subject to AD/CVD orders will be 
admitted in domestic (duty-paid)

[[Page 79049]]

status), exhaust systems, hinges, torque converters, pneumatic 
dampeners, speedometers, tachometers, voltmeters, flow meters, 
regulators/controllers, windshields, glass windows, resistors, relays, 
starters, electrical components, clocks, spark plugs, and switches 
(duty rate range: free 9.0%).
    FTZ procedures could 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. Certain 
logistical/supply chain management savings would also be realized 
through FTZ procedures. 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 following address: Office of the Executive Secretary, 
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20230-0002. The closing period for receipt of comments 
is February 23, 2009. Rebuttal comments in response to material 
submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the 
subsequent 15-day period to March 9, 2009.
    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: December 17, 2008.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-30684 Filed 12-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S