[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51672-51673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25379]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary


Determination of Total Amounts and Quota Period for Tariff-Rate 
Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and Certain Imported Sugars, Syrups, and 
Molasses

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice establishes the aggregate quantity of 2,300,000 
metric tons, raw value, of raw cane sugar that may be entered under 
subheading 1701.11.10 during fiscal year 1997 (FY 97), with 600,000 
metric tons subject to possible cancellation. This notice in addition 
establishes the aggregate quantity of 47,000 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 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) 
during FY 97.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to the Sugar Team 
Leader, Import Policy and Programs Division, STOP 1021, 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, 
Import Policy and Programs Division), 202-720-1061.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Paragraph (a)(i) of additional U.S. note 5 
to chapter 17 of the HTS provides in pertinent part as follows:

    * * * 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withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, under subheading 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 * * *, and the aggregate quantity of 
sugars, syrups, and molasses entered, or withdrawn from warehouse 
for consumption, under

[[Page 51673]]

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), less than 
22,000 metric tons, as shall be established by the Secretary. With 
either the aggregate quantity for raw cane sugar or the aggregate 
quantity for syrups, sugars and molasses other than raw cane sugar, 
the Secretary may reserve a quota quantity for the importation of 
specialty sugars as defined by the United States Trade 
Representative.

    These provisions of paragraph (a)(i) of additional U.S. note 5 to 
chapter 17 of the HTS authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to 
establish the total amounts (expressed in terms of raw value) for 
imports of raw cane sugar and certain other sugars, syrups, and 
molasses that may be entered under the subheadings of the HTS subject 
to the lower tier of duties of the tariff-rate quotas for entry during 
the fiscal year beginning October 1.
    The Secretary issued a proposal for the 1997 fiscal year tariff-
rate quota on August 13, 1996, and invited comments from interested 
persons. Approximately 40 comments were received and were considered.
    Allocations of the quota amounts among supplying countries and 
areas will be made by the United States Trade Representative.

Notice

    Notice is hereby given that I have determined, in accordance with 
paragraph (a) of additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS, that 
an aggregate quantity of up to 2,300,000 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, 1996, through September 30, 1997. Of this quantity, 
1,700,000 metric tons will be immediately available, to be allocated by 
the United States Trade Representative, and the remaining 600,000 
metric tons will be held in reserve.
    If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the January 1997 World 
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is equal to, or less 
than 15.5 percent, the United States Trade Representative will allocate 
an additional 200,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane 
sugar. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the January 1997 WASDE 
is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000 metric tons of the reserved 
quantity for raw cane sugar will be automatically cancelled without 
further notice.
    If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the March 1997 WASDE is 
equal to, or less than 15.5 percent, the United States Trade 
Representative will allocate an additional 200,000 metric tons of the 
reserved quantity for raw cane sugar. If the stocks-to-use ratio 
published in the March 1997 WASDE is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000 
metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be 
automatically cancelled without further notice.
    If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the May 1997 WASDE is equal 
to, or less than, 15.5 percent, the United States Trade Representative 
will allocate an additional 200,000 metric tons of the reserved 
quantity for raw cane sugar. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in 
the May 1997 WASDE is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000 metric tons of 
the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be automatically 
cancelled without further notice.
    I have further determined that an aggregate quantity of up to 
47,000 metric tons, raw value, of certain sugars, syrups, and molasses 
described in subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 
1702.90.10, and 2106.90.44 of the HTS may be entered or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption during the period from October 1, 1996, 
through September 30, 1997. I have further determined that out of this 
quantity of 47,000 metric tons, the quantity of 1,656 metric tons, raw 
value, is reserved for the importation of speciality sugars. These 
quota amounts may be allocated among supplying countries and areas by 
the United States Trade Representative.
    Interested parties are further notified that shipping patterns will 
be established for imports of raw can sugar from the Dominican 
Republic, Brazil and the Philippines. Imports from each of these 
countries during the first quarter of the fiscal year may not exceed 25 
percent of the quantity allocated to such country, nor more than 50 
percent of such allocations prior to April 1, 1997, nor more than 75 
percent of such allocations prior to July 1, 1997.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. on September 27, 1996.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 96-25379 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
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