[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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Current  FY                 New  FY  
             Country                   1998      Additional      1998   
                                    allocation   allocation   allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
                                  --------------------------------------
    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