[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8806-8807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03133]


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FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE


Notice of a Request for Revision 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 a 
revision for a currently approved information collection relating to 
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 April 
20, 2020 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by the OMB Control number 
0551-0014, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for sending comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include OMB Control number 
0551-0014 in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: 202-720-0876.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-1021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected], 202-720-2194, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Certificates for Quota Eligibility.
    OMB Number: 0551-0014.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2020.
    Type of Request: Revision 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, 
syrups, and molasses that may be entered at the lower tariff rates of 
TRQs established under the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade 
negotiations as reflected in the provisions of Schedule XX (United 
States), annexed to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World 
Trade Organization (WTO).
    Pursuant to 15 CFR part 2011, Allocation of Tariff-Rate Quota on 
Imported Sugars, Syrups, and Molasses, Subpart A--Certificates of 
Quota, CQEs are issued to foreign countries that have been allocated a 
share of the WTO sugar TRQ. This regulation provides for the issuance 
of CQEs by the Secretary of Agriculture and in general prohibits sugar 
entered under the WTO TRQ 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.
    In addition, CQEs are required for the import of sugar into the 
United States under the sugar TRQs established under the U.S.--
Colombia, U.S.--Panama, and U.S.--Peru Trade Promotion Agreements, as 
set forth in 19 U.S.C. 3805.
    CQEs for the aforementioned WTO and FTA sugar TRQs are distributed 
to foreign countries by the Senior Director of the Multilateral Affairs 
Division, Foreign Agriculture Service, or his or her designee. The 
distribution of CQEs is in such amounts and at such times as the Senior 
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: 30.
    Estimated Number of FTA Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 124 per fiscal year.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 3,968 hours
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Connie 
Ehrhart, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 690-
1578.

[[Page 8807]]

    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 Ronald Croushorn, the Agency Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (202) 720-3038.
    Comments may be sent to William Janis, International Economist, 
Multilateral Affairs 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 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 
Elimination Act which requires Government agencies, to the maximum 
extent feasible, to provide the public the option of electronically 
submitting information collection. CQEs permit exporters to ship raw 
cane sugar 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.

    Dated: February 7, 2020.
Kenneth Isley,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-03133 Filed 2-14-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-10-P