[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 25012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11994]


      
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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 25012]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Determination of Total Amount and Quota Period for Tariff-Rate 
Quota for Raw Cane Sugar

agency: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

action: Notice.

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summary: This notice sets forth the establishment of the aggregate 
quantity of 1,600,000 metric tons, raw value, of raw cane sugar that 
may be entered under subheading 1701.11.10 during fiscal year (FY) 
1998, with 400,000 metric tons subject to possible cancellation. This 
notice does not affect the previously established aggregate quantity of 
50,000 metric tons (raw value basis) for certain sugars, syrups and 
molasses that may be entered under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 
1701.99.10, 1702.90.10, and 2106.90.44 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTS) during FY 1998.

effective date: May 6, 1998.

addresses: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to the Import Policy 
and Programs Division Director, Foreign Agricultural Service, Room 
5531, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 
20250-1000.
for further information contact: Stephen Hammond (Division Director, 
Import Policies and Programs Division), 202-720-2916.

supplementary information: Paragraph (a)(i) of additional U.S. note 5 
to chapter 17 of the HTS provides, in pertinent part, as follows:
    The aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, under subheading 1701.11.10, during any 
fiscal year, shall not exceed in the aggregate an amount (expressed in 
terms of raw value), not less than 1,117,195 metric tons, as shall be 
established by the Secretary of Agriculture * * *, and the aggregate 
quantity of sugars, syrups and molasses entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 
1701.99.10, 1702.90.10 and 2106.90.44, during any fiscal year, shall 
not exceed in the aggregate an amount (expressed in terms of raw 
value), not less than 22,000 metric tons, as shall be established by 
the Secretary. With either the aggregate quantity for raw cane sugar or 
the aggregate quantity for sugars, syrups and molasses other than raw 
cane sugar, the Secretary may reserve a quota quantity for the 
importation of specialty sugars as defined by the United States Trade 
Representative.
    These provisions of paragraph (a)(i) of additional U.S. note 5 to 
chapter 17 of the HTS authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to 
establish the total amounts (expressed in terms of raw value) for 
imports of raw cane sugar and certain other sugars, syrups, and 
molasses that may be entered under the subheadings of the HTS subject 
to the lower tier of duties of the tariff-rate quotas for entry during 
the fiscal year beginning October 1.
    The Secretary originally established the FY 1998 raw sugar TRQ at 
1,800,000 metric tons raw value. Of that quantity, the U.S. Trade 
Representative allocated 1,200,000 metric tons on September 17, 1997, 
and the remaining 600,000 metric tons was held in reserve for the 
allocation or cancellation of 200,000 metric tons in January, March, 
and May. The stocks-to-use ratio published in the January 1998 World 
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report was 15.7 percent. 
Because this stocks-to-use ratio is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000 
metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar has been 
canceled. The size of the raw cane TRQ is now being established at 
1,600,000 metric tons. Of that quantity, 400,000 metric tons is being 
held in reserve for the allocation or cancellation of 200,000 metric 
tons in March and May.

Notice

    Notice is hereby given that I have determined, in accordance with 
paragraph (a) of additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS, that 
an aggregate quantity of up to 1,600,000 metric tons, raw value, of raw 
cane sugar described in subheading 1701.11.10 of the HTS may be entered 
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during the period from 
October 1, 1997, through September 30, 1998. Of this quantity, 
1,200,000 metric tons was allocated by the United States Trade 
Representative, and the remaining 400,000 metric tons will be held in 
reserve.
    If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the March 1998 World 
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is equal to, or less 
than, 15.5 percent (rounded to the nearest tenth), an additional 
200,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be 
available for allocation. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the 
March 1998 WASDE is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000 metric tons of 
the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will automatically be canceled 
without further notice.
    If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the May 1998 WASDE is equal 
to, or less than, 15.5 percent, an additional 200,000 metric tons of 
the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be available for 
allocation. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the May 1998 WASDE 
is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000 metric tons of the reserved 
quantity for raw cane sugar will automatically be canceled without 
further notice.
    I will issue Certificates of Quota Eligibility (CQEs) to allow the 
Philippines, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic to ship up to 25 
percent of each country's allocation at the low-tier tariff during each 
quarter of FY 1998. Australia, Guatemala, Argentina, Peru, Panama, El 
Salvador, Colombia, South Africa, and Nicaragua will be allowed to ship 
up to 50 percent of their initial allocations in the first six months 
of FY 1998. Unentered allocations, during any quarter or six month 
period, may be entered in any subsequent period. For all other 
countries, CQEs corresponding to each country's allocation may be 
entered at the low-tier tariff at any time during the fiscal year. 
Should country allocations result from the March, and May blocks, they 
may be entered subsequent to their allocation by the United States 
Trade Representative.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on April 29, 1998.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 98-11994 Filed 5-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M