[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 17012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7059]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 17-2012]


Foreign-Trade Zone 158--Vicksburg/Jackson, MS; Application for 
Manufacturing Authority; Morgan Fabrics Corporation (Upholstered 
Furniture Covering Sets), Verona, MS

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Greater Mississippi Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc., 
grantee of FTZ 158, requesting manufacturing authority on behalf of 
Morgan Fabrics Corporation (MFC), to manufacture upholstered furniture 
covering sets under FTZ procedures within FTZ 158. 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 19, 2012.
    The MFC facility (33 employees) is located at 108 Lipford Road 
within the Tupelo Lee Industrial Park (Site 17) in Verona, Lee County, 
Mississippi. The application proposes that MFC would utilize foreign-
origin ``micro-denier suede'' fabric (up to 3 million square yards per 
year) to be cut and sewn into upholstery covering sets (i.e., furniture 
parts) under FTZ procedures. The finished covering sets (HTSUS 9401.90; 
duty free) would be shipped from the zone to U.S. furniture 
manufacturing plants where they would be incorporated into upholstered 
furniture.
    The proposed scope of authority under FTZ procedures would only 
involve duty savings on foreign origin, micro-denier suede fabrics 
(classified under HTSUS Headings 5407, 5512, 5515, 5516, 5903, 5906, 
6001, 6005, 6006; duty rate range: 2.7-17.2%) finished with a caustic 
soda wash process, which the applicant indicates are not produced by 
U.S. mills. The application indicates that MFC does not seek FTZ 
benefits on any other foreign fabrics that the company may use in 
production at the facility (i.e., full duties would be paid on all such 
fabrics).
    On foreign micro-denier suede fabric used in production for the 
U.S. market, the company would be able to choose the finished 
upholstery covering set (i.e., furniture part) duty rate (free) after 
the fabric has been cut, sewn, and formed into covering sets, at which 
time they would be entered for consumption from the zone. 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 evaluate and analyze the facts and 
information presented in the application and case record and to report 
findings and recommendations 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 
May 22, 2012. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to June 6, 2012.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the 
Board's Web site, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.
    For further information, contact Pierre Duy at [email protected] 
or (202) 482-1378.

    Dated: March 19, 2012.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-7059 Filed 3-22-12; 8:45 am]
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