[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 20356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7878]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 26-2012]


Foreign-Trade Zone 277--Western Maricopa County, AZ; Application 
for Manufacturing Authority; Suntech Arizona, Inc., (Solar Panel 
Manufacturing), Goodyear, AZ

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Greater Maricopa Foreign Trade Zone, Inc., grantee 
of FTZ 277, requesting manufacturing authority on behalf of Suntech 
Arizona, Inc. (Suntech), located in Goodyear, Arizona. 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 27, 2012.
    The Suntech facility (100 employees, 117,000 square feet, 50 
megawatt annual capacity) is located within Site 5 of FTZ 277. The 
facility is used for the manufacture of 275 and 290 watt solar panels 
for industrial use. Components and materials sourced from abroad 
(representing 80% of the value of the finished product) include: 
Junction boxes, silicone sealant, putty/caulking compounds, plastic 
sheets, glass, tin-coated copper strips, aluminum frames, insulation 
strips, and copper bars (duty rate ranges from duty-free to 5.3%).
    FTZ procedures could exempt Suntech from customs duty payments on 
the foreign components used in export production. The company has no 
current exports, but has indicated that it may export in the future. On 
its domestic sales, Suntech would be able to choose the duty rates 
during customs entry procedures that apply to solar panels (duty-free) 
for the foreign inputs noted above. Suntech would also be exempt from 
duty payments on any of these foreign inputs that become scrap or waste 
during manufacturing. FTZ designation would further allow Suntech to 
realize logistical benefits through certain customs procedures. Customs 
duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign-status 
production equipment. The request indicates that the savings from FTZ 
procedures would help improve the plant's international 
competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Diane Finver 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 
June 4, 2012. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to June 18, 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 Diane Finver at 
[email protected] or (202) 482-1367.

    Dated: March 27, 2012.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-7878 Filed 4-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M