[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 147 (Monday, August 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45771-45772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19405]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 50-2011]


Foreign-Trade Zone 26--Atlanta, GA; Application for Manufacturing 
Authority; Makita Corporation of America (Hand-Held Power Tool and 
Gasoline/Electric-Powered Garden Product Manufacturing); Buford, GA

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc., grantee of FTZ 26, 
requesting manufacturing authority on behalf of Makita Corporation of 
America (Makita), located in Buford, Georgia. 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

[[Page 45772]]

(15 CFR part 400). It was formally filed on July 26, 2011.
    The Makita facility (300 employees, 75 acres, up to 3 million units 
per year capacity) is located within Site 20 of FTZ 26. The facility is 
used for the manufacture of hand-held power tools and gasoline/
electric-powered garden products. Components and materials sourced from 
abroad (representing 64% of the value of the finished product) include: 
batteries; armatures; tool bags; driver, hammer and angle drills; 
chargers; flashlights; gears, housings, clutches and gear shafts; 
radios; grips, thumb screws, knobs and handles; wrenches; switch units; 
power cords; flanges; screws; nuts and bolts; rubber rings, sleeves, 
grommets and plates; screws; ball bearings; battery covers and lenses; 
grease, lubricants and additives; felt rings; lock springs; lead wire 
assemblies; needle cages; drill bits; socket wrenches; styrene 
polymers; polyamides; resins; caulk; glues and adhesives; vinyl cases; 
vinyl tubes; labels; plastic bags; water tanks; plastic grips; rubber 
knobs and handles; plastic cases; dust bag assemblies; tool belts; 
grinding wheels; tapping screws; lock lever connectors; cotters and 
cotter pins; lock and spring pins; cup washers; set plates; safety 
wires; pipe clamps; copper nozzles; aluminum miter scales; caps, switch 
covers, throttle levers and pipe ends; safety guard assemblies; bearing 
boxes; steel balls; bearing housings and bushings; pulleys; joints; DC 
motors; heat sinks and spacers; coils; electrical outlets; electrical 
switches; switch levers; safety goggles; lighting assemblies; and 
ribbon (duty rate ranges from duty free to 20%). The application also 
requests authority to include a broad range of inputs and finished 
hand-held power tools and gasoline/electric-powered garden products 
that Makita may produce under FTZ procedures in the future. New major 
activity involving these inputs/products would require review by the 
FTZ Board.
    FTZ procedures could exempt Makita from customs duty payments on 
the foreign components used in export production. The company 
anticipates that some 47 percent of the plant's shipments will be 
exported. On its domestic sales, Makita would be able to choose for the 
foreign inputs noted above the duty rates during customs entry 
procedures that apply to: Engine blowers; pneumatic compressors; 
pneumatic tools; table, slide and compound miter saws; drills and drill 
kits; drill and saw kits; drill, grinder, hammer, sander, planer, 
router and screw driver kits; gasoline/electric-powered brush cutters; 
and hedge trimmers (duty free--4.5%). FTZ designation would further 
allow Makita to realize logistical benefits through the use of weekly 
customs entry procedures. Customs duties also could possibly be 
deferred or reduced on foreign status production equipment. The request 
indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the 
plant's international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Christopher Kemp of the 
FTZ Staff is designated examiner to evaluate and analyze the facts and 
information presented in the application and case record and to report 
findings and recommendations to the Board.
    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions 
(original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's Executive 
Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is 
September 30, 2011. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to October 17, 2011.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the 
Board's Web site, which is accessible via http://www.trade.gov/ftz.
    For further information, contact Christopher Kemp at 
[email protected] or (202) 482-0862.

    Dated: July 26, 2011.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-19405 Filed 7-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P