[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 15360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07324]



[[Page 15360]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[B-20-2018]


Foreign-Trade Zone 158--Vicksburg, Mississippi; Application for 
Production Authority; MTD Consumer Group Inc., (Textile Grass-Catcher 
Bags), Verona, Mississippi

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) 
Board by the Greater Mississippi Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc., grantee of 
FTZ 158, requesting production authority on behalf of MTD Consumer 
Group Inc. (MTD) located in Verona, Mississippi. The application 
conforming to the requirements of the regulations of the FTZ Board (15 
CFR 400.23) was docketed on April 4, 2018.
    The MTD facility (over 1,000 employees) is located within Site 17 
of FTZ 158. The facility is used for the production of walk-behind lawn 
mowers using textile grass-catcher bags. In 2016, MTD requested FTZ 
production authority in a notification proceeding (15 CFR 400.22 and 
400.37). After an initial review, the requested production authority 
was approved subject to a restriction requiring that textile grass-
catcher bags be admitted in domestic/duty-paid status (Doc. B-65-2016, 
82 FR 6489, January 19, 2017). This pending application seeks authority 
to use foreign-status textile grass-catcher bags in the production of 
walk-behind mowers. As requested, production under FTZ procedures could 
exempt MTD from customs duty payments on the textile grass-catcher bags 
used in export production. The company estimates that less than ten 
percent of MTD's walk-behind lawn mowers are exported. On its domestic 
sales, MTD would be able to choose the duty rate during customs entry 
procedures that applies to walk-behind lawn mowers (duty-free) for the 
textile grass-catcher bags (duty rate 3.8%). MTD would be able to avoid 
duty on textile grass-catcher bags which become scrap/waste. 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 FTZ Board's regulations, Elizabeth Whiteman 
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 FTZ Board.
    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions 
shall be addressed to the FTZ Board's Executive Secretary at the 
address below. The closing period for their receipt is June 11, 2018. 
Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the 
foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period 
to June 25, 2018.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 
Room 21013, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the 
FTZ Board's website, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.
    For further information, contact Elizabeth Whiteman at 
[email protected] or 202-482-0473.

    Dated: April 4, 2018.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-07324 Filed 4-9-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P