DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 14-88]
53 FR 8479
March 15, 1988
Foreign-Trade Zone 68; El Paso, TX; Request for Manufacturing for SNA Nut
Co. for Pecan Shelling
TEXT: The City of El Paso, Texas, grantee of FTZ 68, has requested
manufacturing approval from the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to allow the use
of zone procedures within FTZ 68 by SNA Nut Company for the shelling of
foreign pecans. The request was filed on March 3, 1988.
Shelled pecans (meats) are subject to a Customs duty rate of 10~ per
pound, though those of Mexican origin are duty-free under the Generalized
System of Preferences (GSP). Unshelled pecans are dutiable at 5~ per pound
and are not covered by the GSP. SNA wishes to enter unshelled pecans into
the zone for shelling and sale of the meats primarily in the United States,
paying duty at the 5~ rate (privileged-foreign status). The benefit sought
is to avoid duties on the weight of the shells, which account for some 50
percent of the incoming items's weight. SNA indicates that, because pecan
meats ca n be imported duty-free (GSP) from Mexico, zone procedures are a
factor in retaining this operation in the United States.
Comments on the proposed manufacturing operation are invited in writing
from interested parties. They should be addressed to the Board's executive
secretary at the address below and postmarked on or before April 25, 1988.
A copy of the application is available for public inspection at the
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Room 1529, 14th & Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: March 9, 1988.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 88-5633 Filed 3-14-88; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M