[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13717-13718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7266]
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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 12, 1998, was 14.5 percent.
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 20, 1998.
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 17, 1997, 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, 1998, 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 1998 U.S. Department of Agriculture's World
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is less than or equal
to 15.5 percent. On March 12, 1998, the WASDE reported a stocks-to-use
ratio of 14.5 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. This allocation
is based on the countries' historical trade to the United States:
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Current FY New FY
Country 1998 Additional 1998
allocation allocation allocation
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Agentina......................... 48,101 8,731 56,832
Australia........................ 92,846 16,853 109,699
Barbados......................... 7,830 0 7,830
Belize........................... 12,305 2,234 14,538
Bolivia.......................... 8,949 1,624 10,573
Brazil........................... 162,201 29,442 191,642
Colombia......................... 26,847 4,873 31,720
Congo............................ 7,258 0 7,258
Cote d'Ivoire.................... 7,258 0 7,258
Costa Rica....................... 16,779 3,046 19,825
Dominican Republic............... 196,878 35,736 232,614
Ecuador.......................... 12,305 2,234 14,538
El Salvador...................... 29,084 5,279 34,363
Fiji............................. 10,068 1,827 11,895
Gabon............................ 7,258 0 7,258
Guatemala........................ 53,694 9,746 63,440
Guyana........................... 13,424 2,437 15,860
Haiti............................ 7,258 0 7,258
Honduras......................... 11,186 2,030 13,217
India............................ 8,949 1,624 10,573
[[Page 13718]]
Jamaica.......................... 12,305 2,234 14,538
Madagascar....................... 7,258 0 7,258
Malawi........................... 11,186 2,030 13,217
Mauritius........................ 13,424 2,437 15,860
Mexico........................... 25,000 0 25,000
Mozambique....................... 14,542 2,640 17,182
Nicaragua........................ 23,491 4,264 27,755
Panama........................... 32,440 5,888 38,328
Papua New Guinea................. 7,258 0 7,258
Paraguay......................... 7,258 0 7,258
Peru............................. 45,864 8,325 54,189
Philippines...................... 151,015 27,411 178,426
South Africa..................... 25,728 4,670 30,398
St. Kitts & Nevis................ 7,258 0 7,258
Swaziland........................ 17,898 3,249 21,147
Taiwan........................... 13,424 2,437 15,860
Thailand......................... 15,661 2,843 18,503
Trinidad-Tobago.................. 7,830 1,421 9,252
Uruguay.......................... 7,258 0 7,258
Zimbabwe......................... 13,424 2,437 15,860
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Total........................ 1,200,000 200,000 1,400,000
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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. 98-7266 Filed 3-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M