[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7249-7251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01794]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[B-02-2021]


Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 114--Peoria, Illinois; Notification of 
Proposed Production Activity; Rivian Automotive, LLC (Electric Vehicles 
and Components); Normal, Illinois

    Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) submitted a notification of 
proposed production activity to the FTZ Board for its facilities in 
Normal, Illinois. The notification conforming to the requirements of 
the regulations of the FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.22) was received on 
January 8, 2021.
    The applicant indicates that it will be submitting a separate 
application for FTZ designation at the company's facility under FTZ 
114. The facility will be used for the production of electric passenger 
and delivery vehicles, as well as vehicle components, subassemblies, 
chargers and charging stations. Pursuant to 15 CFR 400.14(b), FTZ 
activity would be limited to the specific foreign-status materials/
components and specific finished products described in the submitted 
notification (as described below) and subsequently authorized by the 
FTZ Board.
    Production under FTZ procedures could exempt Rivian from customs 
duty payments on the foreign-status materials/components used in export 
production. On its domestic sales, for the foreign-status materials/
components noted below, Rivian would be able to choose the duty rates 
during customs entry procedures that apply to: Brackets, mountings and 
fittings (plastic; metal); inverters; lithium-ion electric battery 
packs; electric vehicles (passenger; delivery); vehicle bodies and body 
assemblies (passenger; delivery); assemblies (interior and exterior 
door; drivetrain; subframe); automotive body products (stampings; 
panels; pillars; crossmembers; reinforcements and supports); 
underbodies; automotive floors; automotive hoods; truck beds; tailgates 
and liftgates; roof headers, roofs, and roof assemblies; rails and 
rocker panels; automotive beams; wheelhouses and arches; cladding 
panels; electric vehicle ``skateboard'' chassis; drive unit; electric 
vehicle charging products (power cabinet; power cabinet module; 
dispenser (direct current fast charger)); slide out cargo tunnel track 
assemblies designed for vehicles; and, slide out camping kitchen 
assemblies designed for installation in cargo tunnel of pick-up trucks 
(duty rate ranges from duty-free to 25.0%). Rivian would be able to 
avoid duty on foreign-status components which become scrap/waste. 
Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign-
status production equipment.
    The materials/components sourced from abroad include: General 
purpose automotive lubricants for gears; R1234YF hydrofluoroolefin 
(HFO) refrigerant; paint primer; clear coat paint; paint, e-coat resin 
and e-coat paste; washer fluid; automotive grease; resin cements and 
caulking components; brake fluid; coolant/antifreeze; high density 
polyethylene; polypropylene; electrocoating resin clear coat; rigid 
plastic tubing (ethylene; propylene; vinyl chloride); plastic 
components (tubes and hoses; tubes (having a minimum burst pressure of 
27.6 MPa; not reinforced (with or without fittings); reinforced); 
fittings for hoses; bags; jugs; caps, plugs and closures; bezels, 
mountings, and fittings for vehicle interior; handles and handle 
inserts; brackets, mountings, fittings, fasteners, spacers, sliders, 
inserts and clips; straps and cable ties; all weather mats and floor 
mats); electrical and sealing tape; self-adhesive components (plastic 
(sheets; films; labels; strips); foam strips; labels); polyethylene 
separators; badges/emblems, trim and finishing closures (plastic; 
chrome); gaskets, washers and seals--including sealing tape (foam; 
plastic); rubber components (weatherstripping; profiles; hoses (not 
reinforced, with or without fittings; air and brake; reinforced without 
fittings); tubing (air and brake; for washer fluid and other liquids); 
floor and tray mats; gaskets; plugs; seals; O-rings; grommets; thermal 
pads; wiper blades); tires; ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) 
rubber exterior door and body seals; natural rubber components (air 
springs; bumpers); synthetic rubber components (bushings; plugs and 
fillers; isolators); carrying/

[[Page 7250]]

storage cases of man-made fibers; seat belt components (webbing; 
retractors, pretensioners and assemblies; belt buckles, tongues and 
assemblies; belt adjusters and assemblies); camping tents for pick-up 
truck beds; high temperature mineral wool insulation; glass mirrors; 
steel components (tube fittings; stranded wire cables; self-tapping 
screws; screws; bolts; studs; socket screws; setscrews; nuts and lug 
nuts; locknuts; fasteners; plugs; studs; lock washers; washers; rivets; 
cotter pins; pins; snap rings; non-threaded fasteners; leaf springs and 
leaves; springs; eyelets; rings; clamps; caps; clips; retainer plates; 
magnetic steel cargo shelf assemblies; wheels; wheels with tire 
assemblies); components for pick-up truck slide out camping kitchen 
(stainless steel kitchenware; towel racks; induction cooktops and 
cooktop assemblies); aluminum components (spacers; fasteners; gaskets; 
plugs; wheels; wheels with tire assemblies); manual actuators for 
hoods, cargo boxes and doors; locks; key cylinders; keys; metal 
components (hinges; brackets; braces; mountings; fittings; drawer 
slides; levers and lever assemblies; seals); charging cabinet brackets 
and mountings; gas springs; welding studs; brake actuators; pumps 
(displacement; electric oil; centrifugal); vehicle thermal management 
system components (refrigerant compressors; refrigerant lines; 
refrigeration chillers); fans; air compressors; modules (air 
conditioning control; thermal cooling; radar; global positioning system 
(GPS) navigation; antenna; condenser radiator fan); heat exchangers; 
filters (oil; air); housings for components (air filters; inverter gate 
drive; controllers; junction boxes and connectors; mirrors 
(``scalps''); fuse box); windshield washer/wiper components (dispensers 
and assemblies; nozzles); windshield washer components (reservoirs; 
reservoir filler necks); jacking pucks; valves (pressure relief; 
solenoid and regulator); valve bodies, manifolds, and connectors; 
faucet sprayer head and sprayer assemblies; bearings (ball; tapered 
roller (including wheel hub units); cylindrical); bearing rings and 
cups; cross-axis joints; low voltage motors; alternating current (AC) 
electric motors exceeding 150kW; assemblies (drive unit; printed 
circuit board; insulated electrical connector; interior and exterior 
door; roof; seat belt; control arm; valve block; steering wheel and 
steering rack; slide out cargo tunnel track designed for vehicles; pull 
out camping kitchen designed for vehicles; winch); electric vehicle 
motors/drive units; stators and rotors; electric transformers; 
converters; drive inverters; portable and onboard chargers; sintered 
neodymium-iron-boron non-flexible magnets; lead acid batteries; lithium 
ion batteries, modules, battery packs, and cells; battery components 
(carriers, separators and walls for cells and modules; control modules; 
pack and module enclosures (including top and bottom lids, covers and 
housings for modules, submodules and vehicle battery packs); shields 
and skid plates; adapters and connectors for connecting and sealing 
battery pack to the vehicle body; clamps); signaling equipment 
(lighting and visual; horns and sound); demisters; windshield wipers 
and defrosters; flashlights; charging cabinet radiators; cabin heaters; 
wireless transmission devices; hand-free microphones; sound system 
speakers mounted in enclosures (single; multiple); sound system 
speakers without enclosures; sound system amplifiers; speaker grills 
and covers; vehicle safety and navigational cameras; key fobs and 
remote control access cards; communication and navigation antennas; low 
noise amplifiers; radio receivers (AM/FM; satellite); circuits 
(printed; flexible printed); remote tuners; intrusion alarms; dashboard 
display panels; capacitors; sensors (multi-purpose; day/night solar; 
ride height; rangefinders and range detecting; temperature and thermal; 
pressure; multi-use; air quality and smoke detection; current); 
terminals and connectors; fuses; circuit breakers; power distribution 
units and electrical overload protectors; contactors; relays; electric 
switches and buttons; pack headers and connectors; busbars and busbar 
headers, jumpers, and trays; lugs; terminals; junction boxes; control 
modules and electronic control units (ECU); panel and distribution 
boards; programmable controllers; cabinets, consoles, and bases for 
electrical apparatus; printed circuit boards; sealed beam lamps for 
vehicles; microchips (programmable and data storage); electronic 
control units, modules and sensors; low voltage coaxial cables fitted 
with connector (<1,000 volts); wiring harnesses and wiring sets; 
insulated wiring harnesses; components for a voltage not exceeding 
1,000V (insulated busbar fitted with connectors; insulated grounding 
wire fitted with connectors; cable; insulated grounding wire not fitted 
with connectors); electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters; bumpers; 
bumper components (moldings and trim; inserts and covers; beams and 
reinforcements); cross car reinforcement beams; body components 
(crossmembers; pillars and pedestals; reinforcements; side panels; 
stampings); bulkheads; cant rails; consoles; console armrests and foam; 
corner nodes; cowls; crush boxes and crush cans; cupholders; ducts, 
vents and vent covers; interior panels and covers; fascias and 
cladding; fenders; floor carpet for vehicles; automotive floor panels; 
gear tunnels; glass run channels; belt cladding; moldings, trim and 
garnish; grilles; gussets; handles (with and without locks); headers; 
headliners (cut to shape/fitted); automotive hoods; hood liners (cut to 
shape/fitted); dashboard insulators; joinings and supports; leaf 
screens; rails and rocker panels; roofs; steering shafts; shock towers; 
spoilers; storage bins and compartments; door latches and door 
strikers; substrates; sun visors; sun visor covers, straps, and 
catches; tailgates and liftgates; wheel liners, tire blocks and spats; 
torque boxes; truck beds; underbodies; wheel houses and arches; 
windshields, roof and window glass; brake calipers, discs, rotors, 
pedals, lines, actuators, shafts and shields, plates, brackets, hubs, 
pads, shims, pistons, and dust boots; shields and housings for gears 
and motors; non-driving axles; wheel caps; shocks; struts; 
accumulators; control arms; dampers; damper modules, valve blocks, and 
dust boots; jounce bumpers, cups, and lines; suspension knuckles; 
suspension links, link assemblies, and link bushings; lines and line 
assemblies (includes hydraulic); manifolds; toe links; steering wheels, 
columns, boxes, racks, shafts and gears; steering spokes and steering 
spoke covers and inserts; airbags; accelerator pedals; baffles; brake 
hoses; closure caps; drive axles without differential; closure lids; 
spindles; cargo crossbars, mounts, and racks; degas bottles; latch 
cables; nylon latch webbing; protective lids/covers; accessory 
enclosure panels; service and roadside safety kits; shims; subframes; 
tow hooks; wheel hub units and assemblies; winches; liquid crystal 
displays; light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) units; tire pressure 
management systems (TPMS); coolant manifolds; instrument cluster meters 
and display elements; seats for motor vehicles; storage pouches and 
pockets for seats; seat cushions, backs, armrests and head rests; seat 
adjusters and handles; seat frames, supports, pedestals and 
reinforcements; protective plastic covers, shields and gap hiders for 
seats; and, coat hooks for seats (duty rate ranges from duty free to 
17.6%, and $0.84/bbl). The request indicates that carrying/storage 
cases of man-made fibers, seat belt webbing, and camping tents for 
pick-up truck beds will be admitted to the zone in privileged foreign 
(PF) status (19 CFR 146.41),

[[Page 7251]]

thereby precluding inverted tariff benefits on such items. The request 
indicates that tires, tapered bearings, and steel wheels/assemblies are 
subject to an antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) order if 
imported from certain countries. The FTZ Board's regulations (15 CFR 
400.14(e)) require that merchandise subject to AD/CVD orders, or items 
which would be otherwise subject to suspension of liquidation under AD/
CVD procedures if they entered U.S. customs territory, be admitted to 
the zone in PF status. The request also indicates that certain 
materials/components are subject to duties under Section 232 of the 
Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232) or Section 301 of the Trade 
Act of 1974 (Section 301), depending on the country of origin. The 
applicable Section 232 and Section 301 decisions require subject 
merchandise to be admitted to FTZs in PF status.
    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions 
shall be addressed to the Board's Executive Secretary and sent to: 
[email protected]. The closing period for their receipt is March 8, 2021.
    A copy of the notification will be available for public inspection 
in the ``Reading Room'' section of the Board's website, which is 
accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.
    For further information, contact Juanita Chen at 
[email protected] or 202-482-1378.

    Dated: January 21, 2021.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-01794 Filed 1-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P