DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 13-90]
55 FR 12695
April 5, 1990
Foreign-Trade Zone 50, Long Beach, CA; Application for Subzone, National
RV Motorhome Plant, Perris, CA
TEXT: An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Board of Harbor Commissioners of the City of Long Beach,
California, grantee of FTZ 50, requesting special-purpose subzone status for
the motorhome/recreational vehicle assembly plant of National RV, Inc., in
Perris, California. 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
March 26, 1990.
The National RV plant (40 acres) is located at Perris Boulevard and
Sinclair Street in Perris, California, some 20 miles east of Riverside. The
facility employs 230 persons and is used to produce Class A motorhomes and
micro-mini recreational vehicles (RV). The primary foreign-sourced component
for the RV is the pickup truck cab/chassis. Some 10 percent of the
remaining components for the RV's and some 12 percent of the components for
the motorhomes are foreign sourced, including electronic components,
switches, mechanical components, windshields, plywood, panelling,
fiberglass, hardware, and fixtures. Some 4 percent of the vehicles are
currently exported.
Zone procedures would exempt National RV from Customs duty payments on
the foreign components used in vehicles produced for export. On its
domestic sales the company would be able to choose the lower finished
vehicle duty rate (2.5 percent) rather than the rate on components. The
pickup truck cab/chassis rate is 25 percent, and the average rate for the
remaining foreign components used for RV's is 2.8 percent and for
motorhomes it is 3.4 percent. The application indicates that zone savings
will help improve National RV's competitiveness in foreign markets (exports
are expected to increase to 10% of production). The request for the subzone
is also based on the fact that one of National RV's domestic competitors,
Winnebago Industries, Inc., presently operates under subzone procedures at
its assembly plant in Forest City, Iowa (FTZ Subzone 107A, 49 FR 35971,
9/13/84).
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: John J. Da Ponte, Jr. (Chairman), Director,
Foreign-Trade Zones Staff, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC
20230; John Heinrich, District Director, U.S. Customs Service, Pacific
Region, 300 South Ferry Street, Terminal Island, San Pedro, California
90731; and Colonel Charles S. Thomas, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer
District Los Angeles, P.O. Box 2711, Los Angeles, California 90053-2325.
Comments concerning the proposed subzone 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 May 4, 1990.
A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be available
during this time for public inspection at each of the following locations:
U.S. Department of Commerce District Office,
11777 San Vincente Boulevard, Room 800,
Los Angeles, California 90049.
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce,
14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 2835,
Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: March 28, 1990.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 90-7775 Filed 4-4-90; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M