DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 42-83]
48 FR 55888
December 16, 1983
Proposed Foreign-Trade Zone Project, Wilmington, Delaware; Application for
Subzone, General Motors Plant, Wilmington
TEXT: An applicaton has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the
Board) by the Delaware Development Office, on behalf of the State of Delaware
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the General Motors Corporation
(GM) auto assembly plant in Wilmington, Delaware, within the Delaware
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
December 1, 1983. The applicant is authorized to make this proposal under
Chapter 75, Title 6 of the Delaware Code.
The State of Delaware submitted an application to the Boad for a general-
purpose foreign-trade zone on April 5, 1983 (Docket No. 9-83, 48 FR 16927,
4/20/83). A public hearing was held on the proposal on May 4. Board action
is expected in early 1984.
The proposed subzone will be located at the GM plant, 801 Boxwood Road,
Wilmington. Employing 4500 workers, the 140-acre facility assembles and
finishes Chevette and T-1000 model automobiles. Although most of the
components are of domestic origin, about 4 percent, including optional
engines and transmissions, seat covers, solenoids, and wiring harnesses, are
purchased abroad. Some 16 percent of the finished autos are exported.
Zone procedures will exempt GM from duty payments on the foreign parts it
uses on its exports. On domestic sales, the company will be able to take
advantage of the same duty rate available to importers of finished autos.
Overall, the average duty rate on the foreign components used by GM is 4.3
percent compared with the rate for finished autos of 2.8 percent. The
savings from subzone status will contribute to the company's overall cost
reduction progam, helping its U.S. plants become more competitive with auto
production plants offshore.
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; Edward A.
Goggin, Assistant Regional Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, Northeast
Region, 100 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110; and Lt. Colonel Roger L.
Baldwin, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District Philadelphia, 2nd
and Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
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 January 18, 1984.
A copy of the application is available for public inspection at each of
the following locations:
Port Director's Office,
U.S. Customs Service,
New Federal Building,
844 King St., Room 1218 F,
Wilmington, DE 19801 and
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 1872,
14th and Pennsylvania, NW.,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
Dated December, 12, 1983.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 83-33473 Filed 12-15-83; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M