[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27781-27782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13378]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Allocation of the 200,000 Metric Ton Increase in the Amount 
Available Under the Raw Cane Sugar Tariff-rate Quota

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 allocation among supplying countries and 
customs areas for the 200,000 metric ton increase in the amount 
available under the current raw cane sugar tariff-rate quota triggered 
by the fact that the stocks to use ratio for sugar reported in the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture's World Agricultural Supply and Demand 
Estimates on May 12, 1998, was 14.2 percent.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to Elizabeth Jones, 
Economist, Office of Agricultural Affairs (Room 415), Office of the 
United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 
20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Jones, 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 a tariff-rate quota for imports of 
raw cane sugar. On September 17, 1997, the Secretary of Agriculture 
announced the in-quota quantity for the tariff-rate quota for raw cane 
sugar for the period October 1, 1997-September 30, 1998, and announced 
an administrative plan under which the quantity available would be 
increased by 200,000 metric tons, raw value, if the stocks-to-use ratio 
reported in the May 1998 U.S. Department of Agriculture's World 
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is less than or equal 
to 15.5 percent. On May 12, 1998, the WASDE reported a stocks to use 
ratio of 14.2 percent, thereby triggering a 200,000 metric ton increase 
in the quantity available under the tariff-rate quota.
    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). Additional U.S. Note 
5(b)(i) to chapter 17 of the HTS also provides that the quota amounts 
established under that note may be allocated among supply countries and 
areas by the United States Trade Representative.

Raw cane sugar allocation

    Accordingly, USTR is allocating the 200,000 metric ton increase in 
the amount available under the raw can sugar tariff-rate quota to the 
following countries or areas in metric tons, raw value. This allocation 
is based on the countries' historical trade to the United States:

[[Page 27782]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Current FY                          
              County                   1998      Additional  New FY 1998
                                    allocation   allocation   allocation
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Argentina........................       56,832        8,731       65,563
Australia........................      109,699       16,853      126,552
Barbados.........................        7,830            0        7,830
Belize...........................       14,538        2,234       16,772
Bolivia..........................       10,573        1,624       12,198
Brazil...........................      191,642       29,442      221,084
Colombia.........................       31,720        4,873       36,593
Congo............................        7,258            0        7,258
Cote d'Ivoire....................        7,258            0        7,258
Costa Rica.......................       19,825        3,046       22,871
Dominican Republic...............      232,614       35,736      268,350
Ecuador..........................       14,538        2,234       16,772
El Salvador......................       34,363        5,279       39,643
Figi.............................       11,895        1,827       13,722
Gabon............................        7,258            0        7,258
Guatemala........................       63,440        9,746       73,186
Guyana...........................       15,860        2,437       18,297
Haiti............................        7,258            0        7,258
Honduras.........................       13,217        2,030       15,247
India............................       10,573        1,624       12,198
Jamaica..........................       14,538        2,234       16,772
Madagascar.......................        7,258            0        7,258
Malawi...........................       13,217        2,030       15,247
Mauritius........................       15,860        2,437       18,297
Mexico...........................       25,000            0       25,000
Mozambique.......................       17,182        2,640       19,821
Nicaraque........................       27,755        4,264       32,019
Panama...........................       38,328        5,888       44,217
Papua New Guinea.................        7,258            0        7,258
Paraguay.........................        7,258            0        7,258
Peru.............................       54,189        8,325       62,513
Philippines......................      178,426       27,411      205,837
South Africa.....................       30,398        4,670       35,069
St. Kitts & Nevis................        7,258            0        7,258
Swaziland........................       21,147        3,249       24,395
Taiwan...........................       15,860        2,437       18,297
Thailand.........................       18,503        2,843       21,346
Trinidad-Tobago..................        9,252        1,421       10,673
Uruguay..........................        7,258            0        7,258
Zimbabwe.........................       15,860        2,437       18,297
                                  --------------------------------------
    Total........................   1,4000,000      200,000    1,600,000
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    Each allocation to a country that is a net importer of sugar is 
conditioned on compliance with the requirements of section 902(c)(1) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C 1446g note).
Charlene Barshefsky,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 98-13378 Filed 5-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M