[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39660-39661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14173]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Additional Tariff-Rate Quota Volume for Refined Sugar From Canada 
Under the USMCA

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The calendar year 2020 in-quota quantity of the tariff-rate 
quota (TRQ) for imported refined sugar from Canada is increasing 
pursuant to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA or 
Agreement) and the April 3, 2020 announcement by the U.S. Secretary of 
Agriculture (Secretary) to permit, at in-quota tariff rates, imports of 
refined sugar, other than specialty sugar, above the quantities made 
available at those rates pursuant to U.S. commitments under the World 
Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement and other trade agreements.

DATES: The changes made by this notice are applicable as of July 1, 
2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Nicholson, Office of Agricultural 
Affairs, at [email protected] or at (202) 395-9419.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 12, 2017 (82 FR 23699), the 
President announced his intention to commence negotiations with Canada 
and Mexico to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement 
(NAFTA). On November 30, 2018, the Governments of the United States, 
Mexico, and Canada (the Parties) signed the protocol replacing NAFTA 
with the USMCA. On December 10, 2019, the Parties signed the protocol 
of amendment to the USMCA. On January 29, 2020, the President signed 
into law the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act 
(Pub. L. 116-113) (Implementation Act), through which Congress approved 
the USMCA. On July

[[Page 39661]]

1, 2020, the USMCA will enter into force.
    The Schedule of the United States to Annex 2-B of the Agreement 
establishes a TRQ for imports of refined sugar from Canada, set forth 
in paragraph 14 of Appendix 2. Paragraph 14(c) provides for an increase 
in the in-quota quantity of the TRQ for refined sugar in any year in 
which the Secretary makes a determination to permit the importation 
into the United States at in-quota tariff rates of additional 
quantities of refined sugar, other than specialty sugar, above the 
quantities made available at those rates pursuant to its commitments 
under the WTO Agreement and other trade agreements. According to 
paragraph 14(c), this increase for the refined sugar TRQ for Canada is 
equal to 20 percent of the additional quantities determined by the 
Secretary.
    Pursuant to Note 9 to Subchapter XXIII of Chapter 98 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), the Office of 
the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) publishes a determination in the 
Federal Register of this additional quantity for any such year.
    On April 3, 2020 (85 FR 18913), the Secretary announced an 
additional in-quota quantity of the TRQ for refined sugar for the 
remainder of fiscal year 2020 (ending September 30, 2020) in the amount 
of 181,437 metric tons raw value (MTRV). This quantity is in addition 
to the minimum amount to which the United States is committed under the 
WTO Uruguay Round Agreements and other trade agreements.
    USTR is providing notice that the in-quota quantity of the USMCA 
TRQ for imported refined sugar from Canada for calendar year 2020 is 
increased by 36,287 MTRV, which may be supplied on a first-come, first-
served basis. Refined sugar imported from Canada pursuant to this 
notice may be made from non-originating raw sugar. Only refined sugar 
with a sucrose content, by weight in the dry state, corresponding to a 
reading of 99.5 degrees polarity or more will be permitted. No 
certificate for quota eligibility is required for sugar entering under 
this additional in-quota quantity.

Daniel Watson,
Acting Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere, 
Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2020-14173 Filed 6-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F0-P