[Federal Register: November 25, 1994]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 36-94]


Foreign-Trade Zone 93--Raleigh/Durham, NC, Application for
Subzone Status, R.G. Barry Corporation, (Footwear and Thermal Comfort
Products), Goldsboro, NC

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Triangle J Council of Governments, grantee of FTZ
93, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, requesting special-purpose
subzone status for the distribution facilities of R.G. Barry
Corporation, located in Goldsboro, North Carolina. 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 November 16, 1994.
    R.G. Barry is a manufacturer and distributor of comfort footwear
(household slippers) and thermal comfort products (heat seats, scarves,
back warmers, hand warmers, pocket warmers, ear muffs and bread
warmers) with total sales of over $100 million (1993) and worldwide
employment of 3,685 persons. The company has U.S. plants in San Angelo,
Texas, Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Laredo, Texas, with operational
headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. An application is pending with the
FTZ Board for subzone status for warehouse/distribution activities at
Barry's San Angelo plant (FTZ Docket 34-94, 59 FR 56459, 11/14/94).
    R.G. Barry's Goldsboro, North Carolina plant is located at 2201
South John Street (172,020 sq. ft. on 35 acres), some 45 miles
southeast of Raleigh. The facility (65 employees) is engaged in the
warehousing and distribution of R.G. Barry's footwear and comfort
products. The products are generally made of domestic materials
(polyester and other man-made fibers), which are cut at Barry plants in
the U.S. and sent to company plants abroad to be sewn. The finished
products are then shipped to Barry's U.S. distribution centers. While
currently over five percent of the finished products are reexported,
the company plans to increase export activity to 14 percent.
    Zone procedures would exempt R.G. Barry from Customs duty payments
on the foreign value involved in products that are reexported. On its
domestic sales, the company would be able to defer Customs duties on
the value added abroad. The application indicates that zone savings
would help improve the international competitiveness of the company's
domestic operations.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ
Staff has been designated examiner to investigate the application and
report to the Board.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to
the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing
period for their receipt is January 30, 1995. Rebuttal comments in
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to February 13, 1995).
    A copy of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be
available for public inspection at each of the following locations:

U.S. Commerce District Office, 400 W. Market St., Suite 400,
Greensboro, North Carolina 27401
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Room 3716, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20230

    Dated: November 17, 1994.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-28955 Filed 11-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P