DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 11-84]
49 FR 10137
March 19, 1984
Foreign-Trade Zone 70, Detroit, Michigan; Amendment of Application for a
Subzone at Auto Plant in Sterling Heights
TEXT: The Greater Detroit Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc. (GDFTZ) has amended its
application for special-purpose subzone status at an auto manufacturing
facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan (Docket 12-81, 46 FR 43481, 8/28/81),
which Volkswagen planned to operate, but instead sold to Chrysler
Corporation in June 1983. This proposal, filed on March 9, 1984, supersedes
the earlier one so that Docket No. 11-84 will replace Docket No. 12-81.
Because Volkswagen did not complete its plans, Chrysler is developing
the facility as a new auto manufacturing plant that will result in 3000
new employment opportunities. Chrysler will use the 283-acre facility to
produce a new mid-sized passenger vehicle. Most of the parts and material
will come from domestic sources. Certain steering, drive train and electric
components, accounting for about 3 percent of material value, will be
purchased from abroad. The company plans to export about 10 percent of the
finished autos.
Zone procedures will exempt Chrysler from duty payment on the foreign
parts it uses on its exports. On its domestic sales the company will be
able to take advantage of the same duty rate that is available to importers
of finished autos. The reduction of Customs costs is part of Chrysler's
efforts to modernize and reduce costs at its U.S. assembly plants making
them more competitive with auto assembly facilities offshore.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, an examiners committee has
been appointed to investigate the amended application and report to the
Board. The committee consists of: Dennis Puccinelli (Chairman), Foreign-
Trade Zones Staff, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230;
William Morandini, District Director, U.S. Customs Service, North Central
Region, 477 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI 48226; and Colonel Raymond T.
Beurket, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District Detroit, P.O. Box
1027, Detroit, MI 48231.
Comments concerning the proposed subzone are invited in writing from
interested persons and organizations. They should be addressed to the
Board's Executive Secretary at the address below and postmarked on or
before April 20, 1984.
A copy of the application is available for public inspection at each of
the following locations:
U.S. Dept. of Commerce District Office,
Federal Building, Room 445,
231 W. Lafayette St.,
Detroit, MI 48226
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 1872,
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dated: March 13, 1984.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 84-7261 Filed 3-16-84; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-25-M