[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49720-49721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25121]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


1997-98 Allocations of the Tariff-Rate Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar, 
Refined Sugar, and Sugar Containing Products

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
providing notice of the country-by-country allocations of the in-quota 
quantity of the tariff-rate quotas for imported raw cane sugar, refined 
sugar, and sugar containing products for the period that begins October 
1, 1997 and ends September 30, 1998.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to Audrae Erickson, 
Senior Economist, Office of Agricultural Affairs (Room 421), Office of 
the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Audrae Erickson, Office of Agricultural Affairs, 202-395-6127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 5 to 
chapter 17 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTS), the United States maintains tariff-rate quotas for imports of 
raw cane and refined sugar. Pursuant to additional U.S. Note 8 to 
Chapter 17 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, the United States also 
maintains a tariff-rate quota for certain 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 tariff-rate quota for any agricultural product among supplying 
countries or customs areas. The President delegated this authority to 
the United States Trade Representative under paragraph (3) of 
Presidential Proclamation No. 6763 (60 FR 1007).
    The in-quota quantity of the raw cane tariff-rate quota for the 
period October 1, 1997-September 30, 1998, has been established by the 
Secretary of Agriculture at 1,200,000 metric tons, raw value (1,322,773 
short tons). This quantity is being allocated to the following 
countries in metric tons, raw value:

[[Page 49721]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                FY 1998 
                           Country                            allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina...................................................      48,101
Australia...................................................      92,846
Barbados....................................................       7,830
Belize......................................................      12,305
Bolivia.....................................................       8,949
Brazil......................................................     162,201
Columbia....................................................      26,847
Congo.......................................................       7,258
Cote d'Ivoire...............................................       7,258
Costa Rica..................................................      16,779
Dominican Republic..........................................     196,878
Ecuador.....................................................      12,305
El Salvador.................................................      29,084
Fiji........................................................      10,068
Gabon.......................................................       7,258
Guatemala...................................................      53,694
Guyana......................................................      13,424
Haiti.......................................................       7,258
Honduras....................................................      11,186
India.......................................................       8,949
Jamaica.....................................................      12,305
Madagascar..................................................       7,258
Malawi......................................................      11,186
Mauritius...................................................      13,424
Mexico......................................................      25,000
Mozambique..................................................      14,542
Nicaragua...................................................      23,491
Panama......................................................      32,440
Papua New Guinea............................................       7,258
Paraguay....................................................       7,258
Peru........................................................      45,864
Philippines.................................................     151,015
South Africa................................................      25,728
St. Kitts & Nevis...........................................       7,258
Swaziland...................................................      17,898
Taiwan......................................................      13,424
Thailand....................................................      15,661
Trinidad-Tobago.............................................       7,830
Uruguay.....................................................       7,258
Zimbabwe....................................................      13,424
                                                             -----------
      Total.................................................   1,200,000
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    This allocation includes the following minimum quota-holding 
countries: Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Haiti, Madagascar, Papua New 
Guinea, Paraguay, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Uruguay.
    The in-quota quantity of the tariff-rate quota for refined sugar 
for the period October 1, 1997-September 30, 1998, has been established 
by the Secretary of Agriculture at 50,000 metric tons, raw value 
(55,116 short tons), of which the Secretary has reserved 4,656 metric 
tons (5,132 short tons) for specialty sugars. Of the quantity not 
reserved for specialty sugars, a total of 10,300 metric tons (11,354 
short tons) is being allocated to Canada and 2,954 metric tons (3,256 
short tons) is being allocated to Mexico. An additional 25,000 metric 
tons (27,558 short tons) of this quantity is being allocated to Mexico 
to fulfill obligations pursuant to the North American Free Trade 
Agreement (NAFTA). Under the NAFTA, the United States is to provide 
total access for raw and refined sugar from Mexico of 25,000 metric 
tons, raw value, for this quota period in conjunction with Mexico's net 
surplus producer status. This allocation is subject to NAFTA rules of 
origin and to the condition that the total imports of raw and refined 
sugar from Mexico, combined, is not to exceed 25,000 metric tons raw 
value. The remaining 7,090 metric tons (7,815 short tons) of the in-
quota quantity not reserved for specialty sugars is not being allocated 
among supplying countries and may be supplied by any country, subject 
to any other provision of law. The 4,656 metric tons (5,132 short tons) 
reserved for specialty sugars is also not being allocated among 
supplying countries and may be supplied by any country, subject to any 
other provision of law.
    With respect to the tariff-rate quota for certain sugar-containing 
products maintained pursuant to additional U.S. Note 8 to Chapter 17 of 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, 59,250 metric tons (65,312 short tons) 
of sugar containing products is being allocated to Canada. The 
remaining in-quota quantity for this tariff-rate quota is available to 
other countries.
Charlene Barshefsky,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 97-25121 Filed 9-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M