[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25011]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

1996-97 Allocation of the Tariff-rate Quotas for Raw and Refined 
Sugar

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
providing notice of the allocation among supplying countries and 
customs areas for the period that begins October 1, 1996 and ends 
September 30, 1997, of the in-quota quantity of the tariff-rate quotas 
for imported raw cane and refined sugar.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to Audrae Erickson, 
Senior Economist, Office of Agricultural Affairs (Room 421), Office of 
the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Audrae Erickson, Office of 
Agricultural Affairs, 202-395-6127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 5 to 
chapter 17 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTS), the United States maintains tariff-rate quotas for imports of 
raw cane and refined sugar. For the period October 1, 1996-September 
30, 1997, the Secretary of Agriculture has initially established the 
in-quota quantity of the raw cane sugar tariff-rate quota at 1,700,000 
metric tons, raw value (1,873,929 short tons) and has established the 
in-quota quantity of the refined sugar tariff-rate quota at 47,000 
metric tons, raw value (51,808 short tons), of which the Secretary has 
reserved 1,656 metric tons for speciality sugars. The Secretary of 
Agriculture has also proved for potential increases in the amount of 
raw cane sugar made available under the tariff-rate quota based on a 
determination by the Secretary of a certain stocks-to-use ratio for 
sugar. In the event of such an increase, USTR will provide notice of 
any allocation of that amount.

    Section 404(d)(3) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 
3601 (d)(3) authorizes the President to allocate the in-quota quantity 
of a tariff-rate quota for any agricultural product among supplying 
countries or customs areas. The President delegated this authority to 
the United States Trade Representative under paragraph (3) of 
Presidential Proclamation No. 6763 (60 FR 1007).

Raw Cane Sugar Allocation

    Accordingly, USTR is allocating the 1,700,000 metric tons for raw 
cane sugar currently available to the following countries or areas in 
metric tons, raw value:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               FY 1997  
                          Country                             allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina..................................................       69,774
Australia..................................................      134,681
Barbados...................................................       11,359
Belize.....................................................       17,849
Bolivia....................................................       12,981
Brazil.....................................................      235,286
Columbia...................................................       38,944
Congo......................................................        7,258
Cote d'Ivoire..............................................        7,258
Costa Rica.................................................       24,340
Dominican Republic.........................................      285,588
Ecuador....................................................       17,849
El Salvador................................................       42,189
Fiji.......................................................       14,604
Gabon......................................................        7,258
Guatemala..................................................       77,888
Guyana.....................................................       19,472
Haiti......................................................        7,258
Honduras...................................................       16,227
India......................................................       12,981
Jamaica....................................................       17,849
Madagascar.................................................        7,258
Malawi.....................................................       16,227
Mauritius..................................................       19,472
Mexico.....................................................       25,000
Mozambique.................................................       21,095
Nicaragua..................................................       34,076
Panama.....................................................       47,057
Papua New Guinea...........................................        7,258
Paraguay...................................................        7,258
Peru.......................................................       66,529
Philippines................................................      219,059
South Africa...............................................       37,321
St. Kitts & Nevis..........................................        7,258
Swaziland..................................................       25,963
Taiwan.....................................................       19,472
Thailand...................................................       22,717
Trinidad-Tobago............................................       11,359
Uruguay....................................................        7,258
Zimbabwe...................................................       19,472
                                                            ------------
      Total................................................    1,700,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This allocation includes the following minimum-quota countries: 
Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Haiti, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, 
Paraguary, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Uruguay.
    The 25,000 metric ton allocation to Mexico is subject to the 
condition that the total imports of raw and refined sugar from Mexico, 
combined, is not to exceed 25,000 metric tons, raw values. Furthermore, 
each allocation to a country that is a net importer of sugar is 
conditioned on compliance with the requirements of section 902(c)(1) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1446g note).

Refined Sugar Allocation

    With respect to the in-quota quantity of the refined sugar tariff-
rate quota, USTR is allocating 25,000 metric tons to Mexico to fulfill 
obligations pursuant to the North American Free Trade Agreement 
(NAFTA). This allocation is subject to the condition that the total 
imports of raw and refined sugar from Mexico, combined, is not to 
exceed 25,000 metric tons raw value. Under the NAFTA, the United States 
is to provide total access for raw and refined sugar from Mexico of 
25,00 metric tons, raw value, for this quota period because the United 
States and Mexico have jointly determined that Mexico is projected to 
be a net surplus producer of at least 25,000 metric tons, raw value, of 
sugar for the 1996-7 marketing year.
    USTR is not allocating among supplying countries or customs areas 
the remainder of the in-quota quantity of the refined sugar tariff-rate 
quota, including the amount reserved for specialty sugars, for the 
period October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1997.
Charlene Barshefsky,
Acting United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 96-25011 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M