[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4557-4558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1029]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Affirmation of Total Amounts of the Fiscal Year 2006 Tariff-Rate 
Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and Certain Imported Sugars, Syrups, and 
Molasses (Refined Sugar)

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of affirmation.

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SUMMARY: This notice affirms determinations announced by the Secretary 
of Agriculture on August 12, August 19, September 9, and December 2, 
2005, that an aggregate quantity of 1,751,329 metric tons raw value of 
sugar 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) 2006. The following TRQ 
quantities were

[[Page 4558]]

established for entry: 1,498,212 metric tons raw value of raw sugar 
under subheading 1701.11.10 of the HTS, and 253,117 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.

DATES: Effective Dates:

Raw cane sugar TRQ--October 1, 2005.
Refined sugar TRQ--September 8, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Curtis, 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 e-
mail [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of raw cane sugar entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, 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sugars, syrups and molasses entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 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.'' 
Paragraph (a)(iv) provides as follows: ``Sugar entering the United 
States during a quota period established under this note may be charged 
to the previous or subsequent quota period with the written approval of 
the Secretary.''
    The provisions of paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(iv) of Additional U.S. 
Note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS authorize the Secretary to establish 
the fiscal year TRQ amounts (expressed in terms of raw value) 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 and to charge to those amounts sugar that is entered prior to 
the beginning of the fiscal year. Allocations of the TRQ amounts among 
supplying countries and areas will be made by the United States Trade 
Representative.
    Notice: In accordance with paragraph (a)(i) of Additional U.S. Note 
5 to chapter 17 of the HTS, the Secretary of Agriculture announced on 
August 12, August 19, and December 2, 2005, that an aggregate quantity 
of up to 1,498,212 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, 2005, 
through September 30, 2006. This amount includes the minimum amount 
authorized by the HTS (1,117,195 metric tons, raw value) and an 
additional amount of 387,017 metric tons, raw value, which represents 
the amount of the domestic cane sugar allotment that the Commodity 
Credit Corporation (CCC) estimates will not be filled in FY 2006. CCC 
is reassigning this deficit quantity to imports, pursuant to section 
359e(b)(1)(D) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 1359ee(b)(1)(D)).
    The TRQ is allocated among supplying countries and areas by the 
United States Trade Representative. Because of changes occurring over 
time in the domestic marketing of cane sugar, certain shipping pattern 
restrictions used in previous years are no longer being imposed.
    On August 12, September 9, and December 2, 2005, an aggregate 
quantity of up to 253,117 metric tons, raw value, was announced, for 
certain refined 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 to be entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during 
the fiscal year 2006 quota period, ending September 30, 2006. Out of 
this quantity of 253,117 metric tons, 28,656 metric tons was reserved 
for the importation of specialty sugars.
    To allow for the orderly marketing of non-specialty, refined 
sugars, 117,039 metric tons were allowed to be entered beginning 
September 8, 2005. This amount was allocated among supplying countries 
and areas by the United States Trade Representative. In addition, four 
global-origin tranches of 34,019 metric tons were established opening 
December 9, 2005, December 29, 2005, January 10, 2006, and January 24, 
2006. Beginning with the December 9, 2005 tranche, sugar entering under 
the global refined TRQ was allowed in containers of 120 metric tons or 
less.
    To allow for the orderly marketing of 28,656 metric tons of 
specialty sugar, 1,656 metric tons were allowed to enter under a first 
tranche opening October 26, 2005, followed by three tranches of 9,000 
metric tons opening November 9, 2005, March 15, 2006, and June 7, 2006. 
All specialty sugars were allowed to enter under the first tranche. The 
second, third and fourth tranches are reserved for organic sugar and 
other specialty sugars not currently commercially produced in the 
United States of reasonably available from domestic sources.

    Signed at Washington, DC the 18th day of January, 2006.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator Foreign Agricultural Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-1029 Filed 1-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P