DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 12-85]
50 FR 23752
June 5, 1985
Foreign-Trade Zone 22 -- Chicago, IL; Application for Subzone for Ford Auto
Plant
TEXT: An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Chicago Regional Port District, grantee of Foreign-Trade
Zone 22, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the Ford Motor
Company's automobile manufacturing plant in Chicago, Illinois, within the
Chicago Customs port of entry.
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 May 28, 1985.
The proposed subzone would be located at 12600 South Torrence Avenue,
Chicago. The 86-acre facility, employing some 3,000 persons, is currently
being renovated to produce a new front-wheel drive car. Some 3 percent of
the components used at the plant are subject to Customs duties, including
radios, sound systems and speed controls. Close to 4 percent of the
finished autos are exported.
Zone procedures will exempt Ford from duty payments on the foreign parts
used in its exports. On its domestic sales, the company will be able to
take advantage of the same duty rate available to importers of finished
autos. The average duty rate on foreign components used at the plant is
7.1 percent, whereas the rate for complete autos is 2.6 percent. The
savings from subzone status would contribute to the company's overall costs
reduction program, helping its U.S. plants to become more competitive with
auto plants abroad.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, an examiners committee has
been appointed to investigate the 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; Richard
Roster, District Director, U.S. Customs Service, North Central Region,
610 S. Canal St., Chicago, IL 60607; and Lt. Colonel Frank R. Finch,
District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District Chicago, 219 S. Dearborn
St., Chicago, IL 60604.
Comments concerning the proposed subzones 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 July 8, 1985.
A copy of the application is available for public inspection at each
of the following locations:
U.S. Dept. of Commerce District Office,
55 East Monroe Street, Rm. 1406,
Chicago, IL 60603
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 1529;
14th and Pennsylvania NW.,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
Dated: May 30, 1985.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 85-13521 Filed 6-4-85; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M