MESA, AZ -- Apple is seeking changes to its free trade zone status at its manufacturing operations here, where it plans to start building server cabinets for its data centers.

The city filed paperwork with the National Foreign Trade Zone Board late last month on behalf of Apple seeking exemptions from customs duty payments on imported materials and components used in export production. On its domestic sales, Apple would be able to choose the duty rate during customs entry procedures that applies to finished server assembly cabinets (duty-free) for the foreign-status materials and components and in the existing scope of authority. Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign-status production equipment.

Apple's current authority covers the production of certain components for consumer electronics.

The duty rate ranges from duty-free to 8.6% for the requested materials.

Materials Apple wants to source from abroad include: tape; plastic boxes; polyethylene bags; plastic bags; plastic packing; plastic washers; rubber washers; rubber spacers; steel screw hooks; steel screws; steel nuts; steel standoff; steel spring washers; steel washers, not spring/lock type; steel rivets; steel cotter pins; steel springs; steel springs, of wire; steel baffles; copper washers; copper boss; copper nuts; nickel fasteners; aluminum screws; aluminum hooks; metal hinges; metal brackets; fans; fan blades, fan unit housings; servers; input/output units; storage units; smart cables; card readers; server housing/enclosures; printed circuit board assemblies; electric motors; transformers; static converters; inductors; magnets; lithium batteries; lithium polymer batteries; routers and network switches; microphones; CDs, software; solid state drives; semiconductor media; monitors; capacitors; fuses; circuit breakers; power strips; relays; switches; electrical connectors; optical fiber cable connectors; terminals; power strips with rack mounts; diodes; transistors; thyristors; LEDs; electronic integrated circuits; infrared LED strips; data server cables; copper and power cables; cables; optical fiber cables; metal furniture; and, server rack rails.

• Prev
• Next