[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4558-4559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1030]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Affirmation of the Total Amount of the Fiscal Year 2006 Tariff-
Rate Quota for Sugar and Certain Imported Sugars, Syrups, and Molasses 
(Refined Sugar) Imported From Mexico

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Affirmation.

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SUMMARY: This notice establishes the aggregate quantity of 250,383 
metric tons, raw value, of sugar that may enter the United States 
Customs Territory from Mexico during fiscal year (FY) 2006 under the 
market access provisions of Chapter 7, Annex 703.2 of the North 
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) under subheadings 1701.11.10, 
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).

DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 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: Annex 703.2 of the NAFTA provides for trade 
in sugar and syrup goods based on annual estimates of net production 
surpluses in the United States and Mexico beginning in 2001, the 
seventh marketing year of the agreement. To facilitate estimates of 
supply and demand prior to the beginning of each marketing year, 
Section A, paragraph 13, of the Annex provides for bilateral 
consultations before July 1.

[[Page 4559]]

    In addition to duty-free access to the U.S. sugar market under 
NAFTA, Mexico may enter under the provisions of Additional U.S. Note 5 
of chapter 17 of the HTS 2,954 metric tons, raw value, of duty-free 
sugar under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10 
and 2106.90.44 during a FY 2006 quota period which opened September 8, 
2005.
    Notice: I hereby give notice, in accordance with Annex 703.2 of the 
NAFTA, that an aggregate quantity of up to 250,383 metric tons, raw 
value, of sugar described in subheadings 1701.11.10, 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, 2005, through September 30, 2006. The quantity is based 
upon the Department's projection of Mexico's net production surplus of 
sugar which is available for export to the United States. The entire 
amount, which is authorized for duty-free entry, is accounted for by 
the domestic cane sugar marketing 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)).
    I have further determined that all entries of sugar entered from 
Mexico under the provisions of Annex 703.2 of the NAFTA during FY 2006 
require Certificates for Quota Eligibility issued by the USDA Licensing 
Authority.

    Signed at Washington, DC the 18th day of January, 2006.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-1030 Filed 1-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P