[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53971-53972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26889]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


1998-99 Allocation of the Tariff-Rate Quota for Raw Cane Sugar, 
Allocation of 27,954 Metric Tons of Refined Sugar to Mexico, Allocation 
of 10,330 Metric Tons of Refined Sugar and 59,250 Metric Tons of Sugar 
Containing Products to Canada and Globalization of the Remaining 
Refined Sugar TRQ

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 country-by-country allocation of the in-quota 
quantity of the tariff-rate quota for imported raw cane sugar, and 
allocation of 27,954 metric tons refined sugar to Mexico, of which 
25,000 may be raw or refined sugar, and allocation of 10,300 metric 
tons refined sugar and 59,250 metric tons of sugar containing products 
to Canada and globalization of the remaining refined sugar tariff-rate 
quota (which includes specialty sugars) for the period that begins 
October 1, 1998 and ends September 30, 1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to Elizabeth Jones, 
Agricultural Economist, Office of Agricultural Affairs (Room 421), 
Office

[[Page 53972]]

of the Untied States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Jones, 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 tariff-rate quotas for imports of 
raw cane and refined sugar. The in-quota quantity of the raw cane 
tariff-rate quota for the period October 1, 1998-September 30, 1999, 
has been established by the Secretary of Agriculture at 1,164,937 
metric tons, raw value (1,284,123 short tons).
    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).
    Accordingly, the 1,164,937 metric tons for a raw cane sugar are 
being allocated to the following countries in metric tons, raw value:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                FY1999
                          Country                             allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina..................................................       46,581
Australia..................................................       89,912
Barbados...................................................        7,583
Belize.....................................................       11,916
Bolivia....................................................        8,666
Brazil.....................................................      157,076
Colombia...................................................       25,999
Congo......................................................        7,258
Cote d'Ivoire..............................................        7,258
Costa Rica.................................................       16,249
Dominican Republic.........................................      190,657
Ecuador....................................................       11,916
El Salvador................................................       28,165
Fiji.......................................................        9,750
Gabon......................................................        7,258
Guatemala..................................................       51,997
Guyana.....................................................       12,999
Haiti......................................................        7,258
Honduras...................................................       10,833
India......................................................        8,666
Jamaica....................................................       11,916
Madagascar.................................................        7,258
Malawi.....................................................       10,833
Mauritius..................................................       12,999
Mexico.....................................................       25,000
Mozambique.................................................       14,083
Nicaragua..................................................       22,749
Panama.....................................................       31,415
Papua New Guinea...........................................        7,258
Paraguay...................................................        7,258
Peru.......................................................       44,415
Philippines................................................      146,243
South Africa...............................................       24,915
St. Kitts & Nevis..........................................        7,258
Swaziland..................................................       17,332
Taiwan.....................................................       12,999
Thailand...................................................       15,166
Trinidad-Tobago............................................        7,583
Uruguay....................................................        7,258
Zimbabwe...................................................       12,999
                                                            ------------
      Total................................................    1,164,937
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    This allocation includes the following minimum quota-holding 
countries: Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Haiti, Madagascar, Papua New 
Guinea, Paraguay, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Uruguay.
    The in-quota quantity of the tariff-rate quota for refined sugar 
for the period October 1, 1998-September 30, 1999, has been established 
by the Secretary of Agriculture at 50,000 metric tons, raw value (55, 
116 short tons). A total of 7,090 metric tons (7,815 short tons) of 
this tariff-rate quota will be available for refined sugar and 4,656 
metric tons (5,132 short tons) will be available for specialty sugars 
on a globalized basis, that is, these amounts will be available on a 
first-come, first-serve basis. A total of 10,300 metric tons (11,354 
short tons) to refined sugar and 59,250 metric tons (65,312 short tons) 
of sugar containing products (of the tariff-rate quota maintained under 
additional U.S. Note 8 to chapter 17 of the Harmonized tariff Schedule) 
will be allocated to Canada. Separately, an additional 2,954 metric 
tons (3,256 short tons) of refined sugar will be allocated to Mexico. 
The remaining 25,000 metric tons (27,558 short tons) of the refined 
sugar tariff-rate quota is being allocated to Mexico to fulfill 
obligations pursuant to the North American Free Trade Agreement 
(NAFTA). Under the NAFTA, the United States is to provide total access 
for raw and refined sugar from Mexico of 25,000 metric tons, raw value, 
for this quota period in conjunction with Mexico's net surplus producer 
status. This allocation is subject to the condition that the total 
imports of raw and refined sugar from Mexico, combined, is not to 
exceed 25,000 metric tons raw value.
Richard W. Fisher,
Acting United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 98-26889 Filed 10-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M