Qorvo Seeks FTZ Approval for Semiconductor Wafers in Greensboro
Published Date: 1/22/2026
Notice
Summary
Qorvo US, Inc. in Greensboro, North Carolina, wants to start making semiconductor wafers, chips, and modules using special foreign materials under Foreign-Trade Zone rules. This move could help them save on import duties and speed up production. The government got their request on January 15, 2026, and is reviewing it to give the green light soon.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
FTZ use may lower import duties
Qorvo’s request would let its Greensboro plant conduct production inside Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) procedures, which the notice says could help the company save on import duties and speed up production. The notification was received by the FTZ Board on January 15, 2026.
Some finished products enter duty-free
The notice lists proposed finished products (for example, radio frequency integrated circuits) and states that duty rates for those finished products are duty-free. Companies making or importing those listed finished products could avoid import duties on those items when produced under the FTZ authorization.
Component duties: 0% to 5.0% range
The notice lists proposed foreign-status materials/components and states duty rates for those components range from duty-free to 5.0%. Importers or manufacturers using those listed components could face duties anywhere in that 0%–5.0% range when bringing them into FTZ production for this request.
Certain goods must be admitted in PF status
The notice says some materials/components are subject to duties under section 1702, section 232, or section 301 depending on origin, and those decisions require such merchandise to be admitted to FTZs in privileged foreign (PF) status (19 CFR 146.41). Importers of those items must follow PF admission rules.
Polyethylene bags hit by AD/CVD rules
The notice states polyethylene bags included among the proposed foreign-status materials are subject to an antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) order or investigation if imported from certain countries, and such AD/CVD merchandise must be admitted to the FTZ in privileged foreign (PF) status.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-13308 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 230, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Corning Optical Communications LLC; (Fiber Optic Cables); Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Corning Optical Communications in Winston-Salem wants to start making fiber optic cables using special imported materials that usually have a 6.7% tax. By doing this inside a Foreign-Trade Zone, they can save money on taxes and speed up production. People have until August 10, 2026, to share their thoughts on this plan.
2026-13307 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 57, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Corning Optical Communications LLC; (Fiber Optic Cables); Newton and Hickory, North Carolina
Corning Optical Communications wants to start making fiber optic cables in their North Carolina factories using special foreign materials that usually have a 6.7% tax. By doing this inside a Foreign-Trade Zone, they can save money on taxes and speed up production. People have until August 10, 2026, to share their thoughts on this plan.
2026-13107 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 43, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Harloff Manufacturing Company; (Solar Power Frames); Lawton, Michigan
Harloff Manufacturing in Lawton, Michigan wants to start making solar power frame parts using special steel coils in Foreign-Trade Zone 43. This move could save them money on import duties and boost local production. Public comments are open until August 10, 2026, so anyone interested can share their thoughts!
2026-13111 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 196, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Foxlink Texas, Inc.; (Printed Circuit Board Assemblies); Fort Worth, Texas
Foxlink Texas, Inc. in Fort Worth wants to make printed circuit boards for headphones using certain imported parts with special duty benefits inside Foreign-Trade Zone 196. This means they can save on import taxes for materials like chips and connectors, helping them stay competitive. Public comments are open until August 10, 2026, so anyone interested can share their thoughts before the plan moves forward.
2026-12774 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 83, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; BASF Mobile Emissions Catalysts LLC; (Mobile Emissions Catalyst Products); Huntsville, Alabama
BASF Mobile Emissions Catalysts LLC in Huntsville, Alabama, wants to start making new mobile emissions catalyst products inside Foreign-Trade Zone 83. This means they can bring in parts and materials without paying some import taxes right away, helping them save money and speed up production. The government is letting folks know about this plan so they can share their thoughts before it kicks off.
2026-12773 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 72; Authorization of Production Activity; iwis drive systems, LLC; (Customized Parts and Drive System Components); Whitestown, Indiana
iwis drive systems, LLC in Whitestown, Indiana, got the green light to start making customized parts and drive system components inside Foreign-Trade Zone 72. This means they can save money on import taxes and speed up production. The change helps the company grow and keeps jobs local without any new fees or delays.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-01110 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 45, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Qorvo US, Inc.; (Semiconductor Wafers and Modules); Hillsboro, Oregon
Qorvo US, Inc. in Hillsboro, Oregon, wants to start making special semiconductor wafers and modules using certain imported materials under Foreign-Trade Zone rules. This move helps them save on import duties (some as high as 2.8%) and speeds up production. The government is reviewing their plan, which was submitted in January 2026, to approve these cost-saving changes.
Next: 2026-01112 — Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 39, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Qorvo US, Inc.; (Semiconductor Wafers, Modules, and Chips); Richardson, Texas
Qorvo US, Inc. wants to start making semiconductor wafers, chips, and modules at their Richardson, Texas facility inside Foreign-Trade Zone 39. This means they can use certain imported materials with lower or no import taxes, helping them save money and speed up production. The government got their request on January 15, 2026, and is reviewing it to give the green light soon.