[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27829-27830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13289]


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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 May 12, 1997, was 15.4 percent.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 21, 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 the 
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, 1996-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 May 1997 U.S. Department of Agriculture's World 
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is less than or equal 
to 15.5 percent. On May 12, 1997, the WASDE reported a stocks to use 
ratio of 15.4 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. 6762 (60 FR 1007). Additional U.S. Note 
5(b)(i) to chapter 17 of the HTS also provides that the quota amounts 
established under the 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  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina.......................................................          78,505           8,731          87,236
Australia.......................................................         151,533          16,853         168,386
Barbados........................................................          11,359               0          11,359
Belize..........................................................          20,083           2,234          22,316
Bolivia.........................................................          14,606           1,624          16,230
Brazil..........................................................         264,727          29,442         294,169
Columbia........................................................          43,817           4,873          48,690
Congo...........................................................           7,258               0           7,258
Cote d'Ivoire...................................................           7,258               0           7,258
Costa Rica......................................................          27,376           3,046          30,431
Dominican Republic..............................................         321,324          35,736         357,060
Ecuador.........................................................          20,083           2,234          22,316
El Salvador.....................................................          47,468           5,279          52,748
Fiji............................................................          16,431           1,827          18,259
Gabon...........................................................           7,258               0           7,258
Guatemala.......................................................          87,634           9,746          97,380
Guyana..........................................................          21,908           2,437          24,345
Haiti...........................................................           7,258               0           7,258
Honduras........................................................          18,257           2,030          20,288
India...........................................................          14,606           1,624          16,230
Jamaica.........................................................          20,083           2,234          22,316
Madagascar......................................................           7,258               0           7,258
Malawi..........................................................          18,257           2,030          20,288
Mauritius.......................................................          21,908           2,437          24,345

[[Page 27830]]

                                                                                                                
Mexico..........................................................          25,000               0          25,000
Mozambique......................................................          23,734           2,640          26,374
Nicaragua.......................................................          38,340           4,264          42,604
Panama..........................................................          52,945           5,888          58,834
Papua New Guinea................................................           7,258               0           7,258
Paraguay........................................................           7,258               0           7,258
Peru............................................................          74,854           8,325          83,179
Philippines.....................................................         246,470          27,411         273,881
South Africa....................................................          41,991           4,670          46,661
St. Kitts & Nevis...............................................           7,258               0           7,258
Swaziland.......................................................          29,211           3,249          32,460
Taiwan..........................................................          21,908           2,437          24,345
Thailand........................................................          25,560           2,843          28,403
Trinidad-Tobago.................................................          12,780           1,421          14,201
Uruguay.........................................................           7,258               0           7,258
Zimbabwe........................................................          21,908           2,437          24,345
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      Total.....................................................       1,900,000         200,000       2,100,000
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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,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 97-13289 Filed 5-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M