[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:
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FY 1997
Country allocation
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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
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Total................................................ 1,700,000
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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