[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65026-65027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28717]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Determination of Total Amounts of the Tariff-Rate Quotas for Raw 
Cane Sugar and Certain Imported Sugars, Syrups, and Molasses (Refined 
Sugar).

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice establishes the aggregate quantity of 1,156,195 
metric tons raw value of sugar that may be entered under the tariff-
rate quota (TRQ) provisions of Additional U.S. Note 5(a) of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) during fiscal 
year (FY) 2004. The following TRQ quantities are established for entry: 
1,117,195 metric tons raw value of raw sugar under subheading 
1701.11.10 of the HTS, and 39,000 metric tons raw value of certain 
sugars, syrups, and molasses under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 
1701.99.10, 1702.90.10, and 2106.90.44 of the HTS.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard J. Blabey, Director, Import 
Policies and Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, AgStop 
1021, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 
20250-1021 or telephone (202) 720-2916, fax to (202) 720-0876, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Paragraph (a)(i) of Additional U.S. Note 5 
to chapter 17 of the HTS provides 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of raw cane sugar entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, 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, (` * * * the Secretary`), 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sugars, syrups and molasses entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 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 TRQ 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 for entry during the fiscal year beginning 
October 1. Allocations of the TRQ amounts among supplying countries and 
areas will be made by the United States Trade Representative.
    Notice: I hereby give notice, in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) 
of Additional U.S. Note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS, that an aggregate 
quantity of up to 1,117,195 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, 2003, through September 30, 2004. This TRQ amount may be allocated 
among supplying

[[Page 65027]]

countries and areas by the United States Trade Representative.
    I will issue Certificates of Quota Eligibility (CQEs) to allow 
Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines to ship up to 25 
percent of their respective initial country allocations at the low-tier 
tariff during each quarter of FY 2004. Argentina, Australia, Guatemala, 
and Peru will be allowed to ship up to 50 percent of their respective 
initial country allocations in the first 6 months of FY 2004. Unentered 
allocations, during any quarter or 6-month period, may be entered in 
any subsequent period. For all other countries, CQEs corresponding to 
their respective country allocations may be entered at the low-tier 
tariff at any time during the fiscal year. I have further determined 
that an aggregate quantity of up to 39,000 metric tons raw value of 
certain sugars, syrups, and molasses described in subheadings 
1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10, and 2106.90.44 of the 
HTS may be entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during 
the period from October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004. I have 
further determined that out of this quantity of 39,000 metric tons, the 
quantity of 18,656 metric tons raw value is reserved for the 
importation of specialty sugars. These TRQ amounts may be allocated 
among supplying countries and areas by the United States Trade 
Representative.

    Signed at Washington, DC the 4th day of November, 2003.
Ann M. Veneman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 03-28717 Filed 11-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P