[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66170-66171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32960]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Modification of the Tariff-Rate Import Quota for Certain Cheeses 
From Hungary

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Modification of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States.

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SUMMARY: This document modifies Additional U.S. Notes 21 and 25 to

[[Page 66171]]

Chapter 4 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) 
to delete the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) allocation of 400,000 kilograms 
to Hungary for Italian-type cheese and to increase TRQ allocation to 
Hungary for Swiss or Emmenthaler cheese to 800,000 kilograms.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This modification is effective on January 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Suzanne Early, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the United States Trade 
Representatives, 600 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20508; telephone 
(202) 395-6127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 4, 1993, the United States and 
Hungary signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Results of Uruguay 
Round Negotiations on Agriculture. In this Memorandum, the United 
States agrees on a one-time basis to reallocate Hungary's TRQ 
allocations among cheese categories, provided Hungary's request was 
received by the United States prior to the fourth year of the TRQ 
implementation period (1998).
    Beginning on January 1, 1995, and each year thereafter, Hungary is 
allocated: (1) 400,000 kilograms of the TRQ for Italian-Type cheeses 
under Additional U.S. Note 21 of Chapter 4 of the HTS; and (2) 400,000 
kilograms of the TRQ for Swiss or Emmenthaler cheese under Additional 
U.S. Note 25 of Chapter 4 of the HTS. On December 12, 1996 the 
Government of Hungary requested that its entire 800,000 kilograms of 
cheese allocation be shifted to the TRQ Swiss or Emmenthaler cheese. 
The Government of Hungary was advised at that time that reallocation 
requires several administrative procedures which could not be 
implemented before 1998.
    Section 404(d)(3) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA) (19 
U.S.C. 3601(d)(3)) authorizes the President to allocate in-quota 
quantities of a TRQ for any agricultural product among countries or 
customs areas and to modify an allocation as the President determines 
appropriate. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade 
Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2483) authorizes the President to embody in the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) the substance of 
the relevant provisions of that Act, and other acts affecting import 
treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, 
continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import 
restriction.
    In paragraph (3) of Proclamation 6763 of December 23, 1994, the 
President delegated his authority under section 404(d)(3) of the URAA 
to the United States Trade Representative (USTR). In paragraph 5 of 
Proclamation 6914 of August 26, 1996, the President determined that it 
is appropriate to authorize the USTR to exercise his authority under 
section 604 of the Trade Act to embody in the HTS the substance of any 
action taken by USTR under section 404(d)(3) of the URAA.

Modification of the HTS

    Pursuant to the above authority, the USTR has determined that it is 
appropriate to modify the TRQ allocations of Hungary and to embody such 
modifications in the HTS. Effective with respect to articles entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 
1998: (1) Additional U.S. note 21 to chapter 4 of the HTS is modified 
by deleting ``Hungary 400,000'' from the list of countries and 
quantities in such note; and (2) addditional U.S. note 25 to Chapter 4 
of the HTS is modified by deleting the quantity ``400,000'' set out 
opposite Hungary and by inserting the quantity ``800,000'' in lieu 
thereof.
Charlene Barshefsky,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 97-32960 Filed 12-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M