[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44353-44354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15813]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Fiscal Year 2021 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane 
Sugar, Refined and Specialty Sugar and Sugar-Containing Products

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative is 
providing notice of country-by-country allocations of the Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2021 (October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021) in-quota 
quantity of the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for imported raw cane sugar, 
certain sugars, syrups and molasses (also known as refined sugar), 
specialty sugar, and sugar-containing products.

DATES: The changes made by this notice are applicable as of July 22, 
2020.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 5 to 
Chapter 17 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS), the United States maintains TRQs for imports of raw cane sugar 
and refined sugar. Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 8 to Chapter 17 of 
the HTSUS, the United States maintains a TRQ for imports of sugar-
containing products.
    Section 404(d)(3) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 
3601(d)(3)) authorizes the President to allocate the in-quota quantity 
of a TRQ for any agricultural product among supplying countries or 
customs areas. The President delegated this authority to the U.S. Trade 
Representative under Presidential Proclamation 6763 (60 FR 1007).
    On July 9, 2020, the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) announced 
the sugar program provisions for FY2021. The Secretary announced an in-
quota quantity of the TRQ for raw cane sugar for FY2021 of 1,117,195 
metric tons raw value (MTRV) (conversion factor: 1 metric ton raw value 
= 1.10231125 short tons raw value), which is the minimum amount the 
United States is committed to under the World Trade Organization (WTO) 
Uruguay Round Agreements. The U.S. Trade Representative is allocating 
this quantity (1,117,195 MTRV) to the following countries in the 
amounts specified below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              FY2021 raw
                                                              cane sugar
                          Country                            allocations
                                                                (MTRV)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina..................................................       45,281
Australia..................................................       87,402
Barbados...................................................        7,371
Belize.....................................................       11,584
Bolivia....................................................        8,424
Brazil.....................................................      152,691
Colombia...................................................       25,273
Congo (Brazzaville)........................................        7,258
Costa Rica.................................................       15,796
Cote d'Ivoire..............................................        7,258
Dominican Republic.........................................      185,335
Ecuador....................................................       11,584
El Salvador................................................       27,379
Fiji.......................................................        9,477
Gabon......................................................        7,258
Guatemala..................................................       50,546
Guyana.....................................................       12,636
Haiti......................................................        7,258
Honduras...................................................       10,530
India......................................................        8,424
Jamaica....................................................       11,584
Madagascar.................................................        7,258
Malawi.....................................................       10,530
Mauritius..................................................       12,636
Mexico.....................................................        7,258
Mozambique.................................................       13,690
Nicaragua..................................................       22,114
Panama.....................................................       30,538
Papua New Guinea...........................................        7,258
Paraguay...................................................        7,258
Peru.......................................................       43,175
Philippines................................................      142,160
South Africa...............................................       24,220
St. Kitts & Nevis..........................................        7,258
Swaziland..................................................       16,849
Taiwan.....................................................       12,636
Thailand...................................................       14,743
Trinidad & Tobago..........................................        7,371
Uruguay....................................................        7,258
Zimbabwe...................................................       12,636
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These allocations are based on the countries' historical shipments 
to the

[[Page 44354]]

United States. The allocations of the in-quota quantities of the raw 
cane sugar TRQ to countries that are net importers of sugar are 
conditioned on receipt of the appropriate verifications of origin, and 
certificates for quota eligibility must accompany imports from any 
country for which an allocation has been provided.
    On July 9, 2020, the Secretary also announced the establishment of 
the in-quota quantity of the FY2021 refined sugar TRQ at 162,000 MTRV 
for which the sucrose content, by weight in the dry state, must have a 
polarimeter reading of 99.5 degrees or more. This amount includes the 
minimum level to which the United States is committed under the WTO 
Uruguay Round Agreements (22,000 MTRV of which 1,656 MTRV is reserved 
for specialty sugar) and an additional 140,000 MTRV for specialty 
sugars. The U.S. Trade Representative is allocating the refined sugar 
TRQ as follows: 10,300 MTRV of refined sugar to Canada, 2,954 MTRV to 
Mexico, and 7,090 MTRV to be administered on a first-come, first-served 
basis.
    Imports of all specialty sugar will be administered on a first-
come, first-served basis in five tranches. The Secretary has announced 
that the total in-quota quantity of specialty sugar will be the 1,656 
MTRV included in the WTO minimum plus an additional 140,000 MTRV. The 
first tranche of 1,656 MTRV will open on October 1, 2020. All types of 
specialty sugars are eligible for entry under this tranche. The second 
tranche of 40,000 MTRV will open on October 8, 2020. The third tranche 
of 40,000 MTRV will open on January 21, 2021. The fourth tranche of 
30,000 MTRV will open on April 15, 2021. The fifth tranche of 30,000 
MTRV will open on July 15, 2021. The second, third, fourth, and fifth 
tranches are reserved for organic sugar and other specialty sugars not 
currently produced commercially in the United States or reasonably 
available from domestic sources.
    With respect to the in-quota quantity of 64,709 metric tons (MT) of 
the TRQ for imports of certain sugar-containing products maintained 
under Additional U.S. Note 8 to chapter 17 of the HTSUS, the U.S. Trade 
Representative is allocating 59,250 MT to Canada. The remainder of the 
in-quota quantity, 5,459 MT is available for other countries on a 
first-come, first-served basis.
    Raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar and sugar-containing 
products for FY2021 TRQs may enter the United States as of October 1, 
2020.

Gregory Doud,
Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative.
[FR Doc. 2020-15813 Filed 7-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F0-P