[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46363-46364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15295]


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

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Fiscal Year 2024 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 allocations of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (October 
1, 2023 through September 30, 2024) 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 19, 
2023.

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 Proclamations 6763 (60 FR 1007) and 
7235 (64 FR 55611).
    On July 5, 2023, the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural 
Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Administrator) announced 
the sugar program provisions for FY2024. The Administrator announced an 
in-quota quantity of the TRQ for raw cane sugar for FY2024 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 to 
which the United States is committed under the World Trade Organization 
(WTO) Agreement. The U.S. Trade Representative is allocating this 
quantity (1,117,195 MTRV) to the following countries in the amounts 
specified below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              FY2024 TRQ
                                                             allocations
                          Country                           (metric tons
                                                             raw value)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina.................................................        46,260
Australia.................................................        89,293
Barbados..................................................         7,531
Belize....................................................        11,834
Bolivia...................................................         8,606
Brazil....................................................       155,993
Colombia..................................................        25,819
Congo (Brazzaville).......................................         7,258
Costa Rica................................................        16,137
Cote d'Ivoire.............................................         7,258
Dominican Republic........................................       189,343
Ecuador...................................................        11,834
El Salvador...............................................        27,971
Eswatini (Swaziland)......................................        17,213
Fiji......................................................         9,682
Gabon.....................................................         7,258
Guatemala.................................................        51,639
Guyana....................................................        12,910
Haiti.....................................................         7,258
Honduras..................................................        10,758
India.....................................................         8,606
Jamaica...................................................        11,834
Madagascar................................................         7,258
Malawi....................................................        10,758
Mauritius.................................................        12,910
Mexico....................................................         7,258
Mozambique................................................        13,986
Panama....................................................        31,199
Papua New Guinea..........................................         7,258
Paraguay..................................................         7,258
Peru......................................................        44,108
Philippines...............................................       145,235
South Africa..............................................        24,744
St. Kitts & Nevis.........................................         7,258

[[Page 46364]]

 
Taiwan....................................................        12,910
Thailand..................................................        15,061
Trinidad-Tobago...........................................         7,531
Uruguay...................................................         7,258
Zimbabwe..................................................        12,910
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. Certificates for 
quota eligibility must accompany imports from any country for which an 
allocation has been provided.
    On July 5, 2023, the Administrator also announced the establishment 
of the in-quota quantity of the FY2024 refined sugar TRQ at 232,000 
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 Agreement (22,000 MTRV of which 1,656 MTRV is reserved 
for specialty sugar) and an additional 210,000 MTRV for specialty 
sugars. The U.S. Trade Representative is allocating the refined sugar 
TRQ as follows: 10,300 MTRV 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 Administrator has 
announced that the total in-quota quantity of specialty sugar will be 
the 1,656 MTRV reserved within the WTO minimum commitment plus an 
additional 210,000 MTRV. The first tranche of 1,656 MTRV will open on 
October 2, 2023. All types of specialty sugars are eligible for entry 
under this tranche. The second tranche of 60,000 MTRV will open on 
October 10, 2023. The third tranche of 60,000 MTRV will open on January 
19, 2024. The fourth tranche of 45,000 MTRV will open on April 15, 
2024. The fifth tranche of 45,000 MTRV will open on July 15, 2024. The 
second, third, fourth, and fifth tranches will be 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 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 metric tons to Canada. The 
remainder of the in-quota quantity, 5,459 metric tons, is available for 
other countries on a first-come, first-served basis.
    Raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar, and sugar-containing 
products for FY2024 TRQs may enter the United States as of October 2, 
2023.

Douglas McKalip,
Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative.
[FR Doc. 2023-15295 Filed 7-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F3-P