DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 12-87]
52 FR 32822
August 31, 1987
Foreign-Trade Zone 70, Detroit, MI; Application for Subzone by General
Motors Auto Manufacturing Complex in Lansing, MI
TEXT: Notice is hereby given that an application has been submitted to the
Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Greater Detroit Foreign-Trade
Zone, Inc. (GDFTZ), grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 70, requesting special-
purpose subzone status for the General Motors Corporation (GM) auto
manufacturing complex in Lansing, Michigan, adjacent to the Detroit 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
August 18, 1987.
The proposed subzone would involve 4 plants comprising GM's Lansing
manufacturing complex, which covers a total of 714 acres. The facilities
produce autos and components for GM's B-O-C Group, employing 24,000 persons.
The Townsend Plant, located at 920 Townsend Street, and the Body Assembly
Plant, located at 401 North Verlindon Avenue, assemble Buick, Oldsmobile,
and Cadillac automobiles. The Fabricating Plant, located at 2800 West
Saginaw Street produces interior and exterior parts, and machines engine
parts. The Engine Plant, located at 2901 South Canal Road, produces 4-, 6-,
and 8-cylinder engines for B-O-C and other GM autos.
GM plants use mostly domestic components, with some 2 percent being
sourced aboard. These include radios, radio-cassettes, wire harnesses,
instrument panel pads, steering wheels and transaxles.
Zone procedures will exempt GM from paying duties on foreign components
used in its exports. On domestic sales, the company will be able to defer
duty and take advantage of the same duty rate that is available to importers
of finished automobiles. The average duty rate on the foreign parts used by
GM is 4.3 percent, whereas the duty rate for automobiles is 2.5 percent.
These savings are part of GM's overall cost-reduction program designed to
help it become more competitive with auto assembly facilities 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, DC 20230; William L.
Morandini, District Director, U.S. Customs Service, North Central Region,
477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226-2586; and Colonel Robert F.
Harris, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District Detroit, P.O. Box
1027, Detroit, Michigan 48231-1027.
Comments concerning the proposed subzone are invited in writing from
interested persons and organizations. They shall be addressed to the Board's
Executive Secretary at the address below and postmarked on or before
October 14, 1987.
A copy of the application is available for public inspection at each of
the following locations:
U.S. Department of Commerce District Office,
1140 McNamara Building,
477 Michigan Avenue,
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce,
14th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 1529,
Washington, DC 20230
Dated: August 24, 1987.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 87-19960 Filed 8-28-87; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M