[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 37243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18089]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 17, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 37243]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Modification of Total Amount of Tariff-rate Quota for Imported 
Raw Cane Sugar

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice modifies the aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar 
that may be entered under subheading 1701.11.10 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) during fiscal year 1996 (FY 
96). As modified, such aggregate quantity is 2,167,195 metric tons, raw 
value.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to the Sugar Team 
Leader, Import Policy and Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, Room 5531, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D.C. 20250-1000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Hammond (Sugar Team Leader); 
telephone: 202-720-1061.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Paragraph (a)(i) of additional U.S. note 5 
to chapter 17 of the HTS provides, in part, that ``* * * the aggregate 
quantity of raw cane sugar entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption, under subheading 1701.11.10, during any fiscal year, shall 
not exceed in the aggregate an amount (expressed in terms of raw 
value), not less than, 1,117,195 metric tons, as shall be established 
by the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as `the 
Secretary'), and the aggregate quantity of sugars, syrups, and molasses 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, under subheadings 
1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10 and 2106.90.44, during 
any fiscal year, shall not exceed in the aggregate an amount (expressed 
in terms of raw value), not less than 22,000 metric tons, as shall be 
established by the Secretary.'' On August 3, 1995, the Secretary 
established the aggregate quantity of 1,117,195 metric tons, raw value, 
of raw cane sugar that may be entered under subheading 1701.11.10 of 
the HTS and the aggregate quantity of 22,000 metric tons (raw value 
basis) for certain sugars, syrups, and molasses that may be entered 
under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10, and 
2106.90.44 of the HTS during FY 96. (60 FR 42142.) On November 9, 1995, 
the Secretary increased the aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar that 
may be entered under subheading 1701.11.10 to 1,417,195 metric tons. On 
January 17, 1996, the Secretary increased the aggregate quantity of raw 
cane sugar that may be entered under subheading 1701.11.10 to 1,817,195 
metric tons. Again on April 1, 1996, the Secretary increased the 
aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar that may be entered under 
subheading 1701.11.10 to 2,017,195 metric tons.
    Paragraph (a)(ii) of additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 17 of the 
HTS provides that ``[w]henever the Secretary believes that domestic 
supplies of sugars may be inadequate to meet domestic demand at 
reasonable prices, the Secretary may modify any quantitative 
limitations which have previously been established * * *.'' The U.S. 
sugar production estimate for FY 96, released on June 12, 1996, in the 
World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), was reduced by 
130,000 short tons raw value (STRV) to 7.34 million STRV from the WASDE 
production forecast released on April 11, 1996. During this same 
period, the U.S. sugar ending stocks estimate declined by 344,000 STRV, 
to 1.31 million STRV. Both the current season-to-date (October 1 
through June 11) average domestic wholesale refined sugar price (28.75 
cents per pound), and the raw cane sugar price (22.62 cents per pound) 
are at their highest average in over five years.
    Paragraph (b)(i) of U.S. additional note 5 proves that ``[t]he 
quota amounts established [by the Secretary] may be allocated among 
supplying countries and areas by the United States Trade 
Representative.''

Notice

    Notice is hereby given that I have determined, in accordance with 
paragraph (a)(ii) of additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS, 
that an aggregate quantity of up to 2,167,195 metric tons, raw value, 
of raw cane sugar described in subheading 1701.11.10 of the HTS may be 
entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during the period 
from October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1996.
    This modified quota amount will be allocated among supplying 
countries and areas by the United States Trade Representative.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. on July 10, 1996.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 96-18089 Filed 7-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M