[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 24759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9964]


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

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Implementation of United States-Colombia Trade Promotion 
Agreement Tariff-Rate Quota for Imports of Sugar

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: USTR is providing notice that the tariff-rate quota for sugar 
established by the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement 
will be administered using certificates of quota eligibility.

DATES: Effective Date: May 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to Ann Heilman-Dahl, 
Director of Agriculture Affairs, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, 600 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Heilman-Dahl, Office of 
Agriculture Affairs, telephone: (202) 395-6127 or facsimile: (202) 395-
4579.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 22, 2006, the United States 
entered into the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (the 
``Agreement'') and, on June 28, 2007, the Parties to the Agreement 
signed a protocol amending the Agreement. Congress approved the 
Agreement as amended in section 101(a) of the United States-Colombia 
Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (the ``Implementation 
Act'') (Pub. L. 112-42, 125 Stat. 462) (19 U.S.C. 3805 note). The 
President is authorized under section 201(d) of the Implementation Act 
to take such action as may be necessary in implementing the tariff-rate 
quotas set forth in Appendix I to the General Notes to the Schedule of 
the United States to Annex 2.3 of the Agreement to ensure the orderly 
marketing of commodities in the United States. Under a tariff-rate 
quota, the United States applies one tariff rate, known as the ``in-
quota tariff rate,'' to imports of a product up to a particular amount, 
known as the ``in-quota quantity,'' and a different, higher tariff 
rate, known as the ``over-quota tariff rate,'' to imports of the 
product in excess of that amount.) Appendix I of the Agreement 
establishes a tariff-rate quota for imports of sugar from Colombia.
    USTR is providing notice that the United States, consistent with 
Note 9(a) of Appendix I, is administering the duty-free quantities of 
sugar established under the Agreement through a certificate system 
substantially similar to that described in 15 CFR 2011.102(c) (2006). 
Consistent with 15 CFR 2011.102(c), no sugar that is the product of 
Colombia may be permitted entry under the in-quota tariff-rate 
established for imports of sugar from Colombia unless at the time of 
entry the person entering such sugar presents to the appropriate 
customs official a valid and properly executed certificate of quota 
eligibility for such sugar. The Secretary of Agriculture will issue 
such certificates of quota eligibility to the Government of Colombia. 
These certificates, when duly executed and issued by the certifying 
authority of Colombia, will authorize entry into the United States at 
the in-quota tariff-rate established under the Agreement.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the 
information collection requirements related to this notice in 
accordance with 44 U.S.C Chapter 25, and OMB control number 0551-0014 
has been assigned with corresponding clearance effective through May 
31, 2013.

Ronald Kirk,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2012-9964 Filed 4-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W2-P