[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 116 (Friday, June 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50547-50548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13260]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Determination of Total Amounts of Fiscal Year 2025 WTO Tariff-
Rate Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and Certain Sugars, Syrups and Molasses
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Foreign Agricultural Service announces the establishment
of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 (October 1, 2024-September 30, 2025) in-
quota aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar at 1,117,195 metric tons raw
value (MTRV), and the establishment of the FY 2025 in-quota aggregate
quantity of certain sugars, syrups, and molasses (also referred to as
refined sugar) at 232,000 MTRV.
DATES: This notice is applicable on June 14, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Souleymane Diaby, Multilateral Affairs
Division, Trade Policy and Geographic Affairs, Foreign Agricultural
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1070, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-1070; by telephone (202) 720-2916; or
by email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The provisions of paragraph (a)(i) of the
Additional U.S. Note 5, Chapter 17 in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff
Schedule (HTS) authorize the Secretary to establish the in-quota
tariff-rate quota (TRQ) amounts (expressed in terms of raw value) for
imports of raw cane sugar and certain sugars, syrups, and molasses that
may be entered under the subheadings of the HTS subject to the lower
tier of duties during each fiscal year. The Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR) is responsible for the allocation of these
quantities among supplying countries and areas. Section 359(k) of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, requires that at the
beginning of the quota year the Secretary of Agriculture establish the
TRQs for raw cane sugar and refined sugars at the minimum levels
necessary to comply with obligations under international trade
agreements, with the exception of specialty sugar.
The Secretary's authority under paragraph (a)(i) of the Additional
U.S. Note 5, Chapter 17 in the HTS and Section 359(k) of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, has been delegated to
the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (7 CFR
2.26). The Under Secretary has subsequently
[[Page 50548]]
delegated this authority to the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural
Service (7 CFR 2.601).
Notice is hereby given that I have determined, in accordance with
paragraph (a)(i) of the Additional U.S. Note 5, Chapter 17 in the HTS
and section 359(k) of the 1938 Act, that an aggregate quantity of up to
1,117,195 MTRV of raw cane sugar may be entered or withdrawn from
warehouse for consumption during FY 2025. This is the minimum amount to
which the United States is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round
Agreements. The conversion factor is 1 metric ton raw value equals
1.10231125 short tons raw value. The Office of the United Trade
Representative will allocate these quantities among supplying countries
and customs areas.
I have further determined that an aggregate quantity of 232,000
MTRV of sugars, syrups, and molasses (refined sugar) may be entered or
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during FY 2025. This quantity
includes the minimum amount to which the United States is committed
under the WTO Uruguay Round Agreements, 22,000 MTRV, of which 20,344
MTRV is established for any sugars, syrups and molasses, and 1,656 MTRV
is reserved for specialty sugar. An additional amount of 210,000 MTRV
is added to the specialty sugar TRQ for a total of 211,656 MTRV.
Because the specialty sugar TRQ is first-come, first-served,
tranches are needed to allow for orderly marketing throughout the year.
The FY 2025 specialty sugar TRQ will be opened in five tranches. The
first tranche, totaling 1,656 MTRV, will open October 1, 2024. All
specialty sugars are eligible for entry under this tranche. The second
tranche of 75,000 MTRV will open on October 8, 2024. The third tranche
of 45,000 MTRV will open on January 21, 2025. The fourth tranche of
45,000 MTRV will open on April 14, 2025. The fifth tranche of 45,000
MTRV will open on July 14, 2025. 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.
Brooke Jamison,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-13260 Filed 6-12-24; 4:15 pm]
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