[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 208 (Friday, October 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65439-65440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26431]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Implementation of United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement 
Tariff-Rate Quota for Imports of Sugar

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: USTR is providing notice that the tariff-rate quotas for sugar 
established by the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement will 
be administered using certificates.

DATES: Effective Date: October 31, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to Ann Heilman-Dahl, 
Director of Agriculture Affairs, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, 600 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Heilman-Dahl, Office of 
Agriculture Affairs, telephone: (202) 395-6127 or facsimile: (202) 395-
4579.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 28, 2007, the United States entered 
into the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (the 
``Agreement''). Congress approved the Agreement in section 101(a) of 
the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act 
(the ``Implementation Act'') (Pub. L. 112-43, 125 Stat. 497) (19 U.S.C. 
3805 note).
    The President is authorized under section 201(d) of the 
Implementation Act to take such action as may be necessary in 
implementing the tariff-rate quotas set forth in Appendix I to the 
General Notes to the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3 of the 
Agreement (``Appendix I'') to ensure the orderly marketing of 
commodities in the United States. Under a tariff-rate quota, the United 
States applies one tariff rate, known as the ``in-quota tariff rate,'' 
to imports of a product up to a particular

[[Page 65440]]

amount, known as the ``in-quota quantity,'' and a different, higher 
tariff rate, known as the ``over-quota tariff rate,'' to imports of the 
product in excess of that amount.)
    Appendix I of the Agreement establishes three tariff-rate quotas 
for imports of sugar from Panama.
    USTR is providing notice that the United States, consistent with 
Note 6(a), and (e) of Appendix I, is administering two of the duty-free 
quantities of sugar established under the Agreement, the sugar and 
sugar-containing products (SCPs) tariff-rate quota and the raw sugar 
tariff-rate quota, through a certificate system substantially similar 
to that described in 15 CFR 2011.102(c) (2006).
    Consistent with 15 CFR 2011.102(c), no sugar that is the product of 
Panama may be permitted entry under the in-quota tariff-rate 
established for imports of raw sugar or the in-quota tariff-rate 
established for imports of sugar and SCPs from Panama unless at the 
time of entry the person entering such sugar presents to the 
appropriate customs official a valid and properly executed certificate 
of quota eligibility for such sugar. The Secretary of Agriculture will 
issue such certificates of quota eligibility to the Government of 
Panama. These certificates, when duly executed and issued by the 
certifying authority of Panama, will authorize entry into the United 
States at the in-quota tariff-rate established under the Agreement.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the 
information collection requirements related to certificates for quota 
eligibility in accordance with 44 U.S.C. Chapter 25, and OMB control 
number 0551-0014 has been assigned with corresponding clearance 
effective through October 31, 2013.
    USTR is also providing notice that the United States, consistent 
with Note 6(h) of Appendix I, is administering the duty-free quantities 
of specialty sugar established under the Agreement through a specialty 
sugar certificate system substantially similar to that described in 15 
CFR 2011.202(b) (2006). Consistent with 15 CFR 2011.202(b), no 
specialty sugar that is the product of Panama may be permitted entry 
under the in-quota tariff-rate established for imports of specialty 
sugar from Panama unless at the time of entry the person entering such 
sugar presents to the appropriate customs official a valid and properly 
executed specialty sugar certificate for such sugar. The Secretary of 
Agriculture will issue such specialty sugar certificates. These 
certificates, when issued by the Secretary of Agriculture, will 
authorize entry into the United States at the in-quota tariff-rate 
established under the Agreement.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the 
information collection requirements related to specialty sugar 
certificates in accordance with 44 U.S.C. Chapter 25, and OMB control 
number 0551-0025 has been assigned with corresponding clearance 
effective through March 31, 2015.

Ronald Kirk,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2012-26431 Filed 10-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P