[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 51 (Monday, March 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12676-12677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6582]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Allocation of the 200,000 Metric Ton Increase in the Amount 
Available Under the Raw Cane Sugar Tariff-Rate Quota

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 200,000 metric ton increase in the amount 
available under the current raw cane sugar tariff-rate quota triggered 
by the fact that the stocks to use ratio for sugar reported in the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture's World Agricultural Supply and Demand 
Estimates on March 11, 1997, was 14 percent.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 17, 1997.

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, NW, 
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 a tariff-rate quota for imports of 
raw cane sugar. On September 13, 1996, the Secretary of Agriculture 
announced the in-quota quantity for the tariff-rate quota for raw cane 
sugar for the period October 1, 1997-September 30, 1997, and announced 
an administrative plan under which the quantity available would be 
increased by 200,000 metric tons, raw value, if the stocks-to-use ratio 
reported in the March 1997 U.S. Department of Agriculture's World 
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is less than or equal 
to 15.5 percent. On March 11, 1997, the WASDE reported a stocks to use 
ratio of 14 percent, thereby triggering a 200,000 metric ton increase 
in the quantity available under the tariff-rate quota. 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). Additional U.S. Note 5(b)(i) to 
chapter 17 of the HTS also provides that the quota amounts established 
under that note may be allocated among supplying countries and areas by 
the United States Trade Representative.

Raw Cane Sugar Allocation

    Accordingly, USTR is allocating the 200,000 metric ton increase in 
the amount available under the raw cane sugar tariff-rate quota to the 
following countries or areas in metric tons, raw value:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Current FY                          
             Country                   1997      Additional  New FY 1997
                                    allocation   allocation   allocation
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Argentina........................       69,774        8,731       78,505
Australia........................      134,681       16,853      151,533
Barbados.........................       11,359            0       11,359
Belize...........................       17,849        2,234       20,083
Bolivia..........................       12,981        1,624       14,606
Brazil...........................      235,286       29,442      264,727
Colombia.........................       38,944        4,873       43,817
Congo............................        7,258            0        7,258
Costa Rica.......................       24,340        3,046       27,386
Cote d'Ivoire....................        7,258            0        7,258
Dominican Republic...............      285,588       35,736      321,324
Ecuador..........................       17,849        2,234       20,083
El Salvador......................       42,189        5,279       47,468
Fiji.............................       14,604        1,827       16,431
Gabon............................        7,258            0        7,258
Guatemala........................       77,888        9,746       87,634
Guyana...........................       19,472        2,437       21,908
Haiti............................        7,258            0        7,258
Honduras.........................       16,227        2,030       18,257
India............................       12,981        1,624       14,606
Jamaica..........................       17,849        2,234       20,083
Madagascar.......................        7,258            0        7,258

[[Page 12677]]

                                                                        
Malawi...........................       16,227        2,030       18,257
Mauritius........................       19,472        2,437       21,908
Mexico...........................       25,000            0       25,000
Mozambique.......................       21,095        2,640       23,734
Nicaragua........................       34,076        4,264       38,340
Panama...........................       47,057        5,888       52,945
Papua New Guinea.................        7,258            0        7,258
Paraguay.........................        7,258            0        7,258
Peru.............................       66,529        8,325       74,854
Philippines......................      219,059       27,411      246,470
South Africa.....................       37,321        4,670       41,991
St. Kitts & Nevis................        7,258            0        7,258
Swaziland........................       25,963        3,249       29,211
Taiwan...........................       19,472        2,437       21,908
Thailand.........................       22,717        2,843       25,560
Trinidad-Tobago..................       11,359        1,421       12,780
Uruguay..........................        7,258            0        7,258
Zimbabwe.........................       19,472        2,437       21,908
                                  --------------------------------------
    Total........................    1,700,000      200,000    1,900,000
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    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).
Charlene Barshefsky,
Acting United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 97-6582 Filed 3-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M