[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 37516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14470]



[[Page 37516]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of a Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's intention to request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 
the regulation providing for the issuance of certificates of quota 
eligibility (CQEs) required to enter sugar and sugar-containing 
products under tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) into the United States.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by no later than August 
20, 2013 to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information and to 
submit comments contact William Janis, International Economist, Import 
Policies and Export Reporting Division, AgStop 1021, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-1021 or 
telephone (202) 720-2194, fax to (202) 720-0876, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Title: Certificates of Quota Eligibility.
    OMB Number: 0551-0014.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2013.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Additional U.S. note 5 to Chapter 17 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), established by Presidential 
Proclamation 6763 of December 1994, authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture to establish for each fiscal year the quantity of sugars 
and syrups that may be entered at the lower tariff rates of TRQs. This 
authority was proclaimed by the President to implement the results of 
the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations as reflected in 
the provisions of Schedule XX (United States), annexed to the Agreement 
establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO). Under various free 
trade agreements (FTAs), the United States has agreed to require CQEs 
for the entry into U.S. customs territory of sugar and sugar-containing 
products. The authority for requiring these certificates is the 
Implementation Acts for the U.S.--Colombia and U.S.--Panama Trade 
Promotion Agreements, set forth under 19 U.S.C. 3805.
    The terms under which CQEs will be issued to foreign countries that 
have been allocated a share of the WTO TRQ or have an allocation under 
a FTA TRQ are set forth in 15 CFR part 2011, Allocation of Tariff-Rate 
Quota on Imported Sugars, Syrups, and Molasses, Subpart A--Certificate 
of Quota Eligibility. This regulation provides for the issuance of CQEs 
by the Secretary of Agriculture and in general prohibits sugar subject 
to the above-mentioned TRQs from being imported into the United States 
or withdrawn from a warehouse for consumption at the in-quota duty 
rates unless such sugar is accompanied by a valid CQE.
    CQEs are distributed to foreign countries by the Director of the 
Import Policies and Export Reporting Division, Office of Trade 
Programs, Foreign Agriculture Service, or his or her designee. The 
distribution of CQEs is in such amounts and at such times as the 
Director determines are appropriate to enable the foreign country to 
fill its quota allocation for such quota period in a reasonable manner, 
taking into account harvesting periods, U.S. import requirements, and 
other relevant factors. The information required to be collected on the 
CQE is used to monitor and control the imports of products subject to 
the WTO and FTA sugar TRQs. A valid CQE, duly executed and issued by 
the Certifying Authority of the foreign country, is required for 
eligibility to enter the products into U.S. customs territory under the 
TRQs.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for the collection 
directly varies with the number of CQEs issued.
    Respondents: Foreign governments.
    Estimated number of WTO respondents: 40.
    Estimated number of FTA respondents: 2.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 30 per fiscal year.
    Estimated total annual reporting burden: 210 hours.
    Requests for Comments: Send comments regarding (a) Whether the 
information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the collection of information including validity of the 
methodology and assumption used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Copies of this information collection may be 
obtained from Connie Ehrhart, the Agency Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (202) 690-1578.
    Comments may be sent to William Janis, International Economist, 
Import Policies and Export Reporting Division, AgStop 1021, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-1021 or telephone (202) 720-2194 or email 
[email protected]. All comments received will be available for 
public inspection in Room 5526-S at the above address.
    Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means of 
communication for information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 
should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments also will become a matter of 
public record.
    FAS is committed to complying with the Government Paperwork 
Reduction Act which requires Government agencies, to the maximum extent 
feasible, to provide the public the option of electronically submitting 
information collection. CQEs allow exporters to ship products to the 
United States at the U.S. sugar price, which is ordinarily higher than 
the world sugar price. Therefore, in contrast to most information 
collection documents, CQEs have a monetary value equivalent to the 
substantial benefits to exporters. CQEs have always been carefully 
handled as secure documents and distributed only to foreign government-
approved Certifying Authorities.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 7, 2013.
Philip Karsting,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-14470 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P