Harmonized Tariff Schedule: Chile et al.; sugar and syrup goods and sugar containing products; trade surplus determination,

[Federal Register: December 21, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 245)]

[Notices]

[Page 76708-76709]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr21de06-107]

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Determination of Trade Surplus in Certain Sugar and Syrup Goods and Sugar Containing Products of Chile, Morocco, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with relevant provisions of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice of its determination of the trade surplus in certain sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products of Chile, Morocco, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. As described below, the level of a country's trade surplus in these goods relates to the quantity of sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products for which the United States grants preferential tariff treatment under (i) The United States--Chile Free Trade Agreement (Chile FTA), in the case of Chile; (ii) the United States--Morocco Free Trade Agreement (Morocco FTA), in the case of Morocco; and (iii) the Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), in the case of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to Leslie O'Connor, Director of Agricultural Affairs, Office of Agricultural Affairs, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie O'Connor, Office of Agricultural Affairs, 202-395-6127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Chile: Pursuant to section 201 of the United States--Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Pub. Law 108-77; 19 U.S.C. 3805 note), Presidential Proclamation No. 7746 of December 30, 2003 (68 FR 75789) implemented the Chile FTA on behalf of the United States and modified the HTS to reflect the tariff and rules of origin treatment provided for in the Chile FTA.

U.S. Note 12(a) to subchapter XI of HTS chapter 99 provides that USTR is required to publish annually in the Federal Register a determination of the amount of Chile's trade surplus, by volume, with all sources for goods in Harmonized System (HS) subheadings 1701.11, 1701.12, 1701.91, 1701.99, 1702.20, 1702.30, 1702.40, 1702.60, 1702.90, 1806.10, 2101.12, 2101.20, and 2106.90, except that Chile's imports of U.S. goods classified under HS subheadings 1702.40 and 1702.60 that qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the Chile FTA are not included in the calculation of Chile's trade surplus.

U.S. Note 12(b) to subchapter XI of HTS chapter 99 provides duty- free treatment for certain sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products of Chile entered under subheading 9911.17.05 in an amount equal to the lesser of Chile's trade surplus or the specific quantity set out in that note for that calendar year.

U.S. Note 12(c) to subchapter XI of HTS chapter 99 provides preferential tariff treatment for certain sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products of Chile entered under subheading 9911.17.10 through 9911.17.85 in an amount equal to the amount by which Chile's trade surplus exceeds the specific quantity set out in that note for that calendar year.

During calendar year (CY) 2005, the most recent year for which data is available, Chile's imports of the sugar and syrup goods and sugar- containing products described above exceeded its exports of those goods by 287,203 metric tons according to data published by its customs authority, the Servicio Nacional de Aduana. Based on this data, USTR determines that Chile's trade surplus is negative. Therefore, in accordance with U.S. Note 12(b) and U.S. Note 12(c) to subchapter XI of HTS chapter 99, goods of Chile are not eligible to enter the United States duty-free under subheading 9911.17.05 or at preferential tariff rates under subheading 9911.17.10 through 9911.17.85 in CY2006 or CY2007.

Morocco: Pursuant to section 201 of the United States--Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Pub. Law 108-302; 19 U.S.C. 3805 note), Presidential Proclamation No. 7971 of December 22, 2005 (70 FR 76651) implemented the Morocco FTA on behalf of the United States and modified the HTS to reflect the tariff and rules of origin treatment provided for in the Morocco FTA.

U.S. Note 12(a) to subchapter XII of HTS chapter 99 provides that USTR is required to publish annually in the Federal Register a determination of the amount of Morocco's trade surplus, by volume, with all sources for goods in HS subheadings 1701.11, 1701.12, 1701.91, 1701.99, 1702.40, and 1702.60, except that Morocco's imports of U.S. goods classified under HS subheadings 1702.40 and 1702.60 that qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the Morocco FTA are not included in the calculation of Morocco's trade surplus.

U.S. Note 12(b) to subchapter XII of HTS chapter 99 provides duty- free treatment for certain sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products of Morocco entered under subheading 9912.17.05 in an amount equal to the lesser of Morocco's trade surplus or the specific quantity set out in that note for that calendar year.

U.S. Note 12(c) to subchapter XII of HTS chapter 99 provides preferential tariff treatment for certain sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products of Morocco entered under subheading 9912.17.10 through 9912.17.85 in an amount equal to the amount by which Morocco's trade surplus exceeds the specific quantity set out in that note for that calendar year.

During CY2005, the most recent year for which data is available, Morocco's

[[Page 76709]]

imports of the sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products described above exceeded its exports of those goods by 553,535 metric tons according to data published by its Customs authority, the Office des Changes. Based on this data, USTR determines that Morocco's trade surplus is negative. Therefore, in accordance with U.S. Note 12(b) and U.S. Note 12(c) to subchapter XII of HTS chapter 99, goods of Morocco are not eligible to enter the United States duty-free under subheading 9912.17.05 or at preferential tariff rates under subheading 9912.17.10 through 9912.17.85 in CY2006 or CY2007.

CAFTA-DR: Pursuant to section 201 of the Dominican Republic-- Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Pub. Law 109-53; 19 U.S.C. 4031), Presidential Proclamation No. 7987 of February 28, 2006 (71 FR 10827), Presidential Proclamation No. 7991 of March 24, 2006 (71 FR 16009), Presidential Proclamation No. 7996 of March 31, 2006 (71 FR 16971), and Presidential Proclamation No. 8034 of June 30, 2006 (71 FR 38509) implemented the CAFTA-DR on behalf of the United States and modified the HTS to reflect the tariff and rules of origin treatment provided for in the CAFTA-DR.

U.S. Note 25(b)(i) to subchapter XXII of HTS chapter 98 provides that USTR is required to publish annually in the Federal Register a determination of the amount of each CAFTA-DR country's trade surplus, by volume, with all sources for goods in HS subheadings 1701.11, 1701.12, 1701.91, 1701.99, 1702.40, and 1702.60, except that each CAFTA-DR country's exports to the United States of goods classified under HS subheadings 1701.11, 1701.12, 1701.91, and 1701.99 and its imports of U.S. goods classified under HS subheadings 1702.40 and 1702.60 that qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the CAFTA- DR are not included in the calculation of that country's trade surplus.

U.S. Note 25(b)(ii) to subchapter XXII of HTS chapter 98 provides duty-free treatment for certain sugar and syrup goods and sugar- containing products of each CAFTA-DR country entered under subheading 9822.05.20 in an amount equal to the lesser of that country's trade surplus or the specific quantity set out in that note for that country and that calendar year.

During CY2005, the most recent year for which data is available, El Salvador's exports of the sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products described above exceeded its imports of those goods by 293,500 metric tons according to data published by the Salvadoran Central Bank. Based on this data, USTR determines that El Salvador's trade surplus is 293,500 metric tons. Therefore, in accordance with U.S. Note 25(b)(ii) to subchapter XXII of HTS chapter 98, the aggregate quantity of goods of El Salvador that may be entered duty-free under subheading 9822.05.20 in CY2007 is 24,480 metric tons (i.e., the amount set out in that note for El Salvador for 2007).

During CY2005, the most recent year for which data is available, Guatemala's exports of the sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products described above exceeded its imports of those goods by 891,159 metric tons according to data published by the World Trade Atlas. Based on this data, USTR determines that Guatemala's trade surplus is 891,159 metric tons. Therefore, in accordance with U.S. Note 25(b)(ii) to subchapter XXII of HTS chapter 98, the aggregate quantity of goods of Guatemala that may be entered duty-free under subheading 9822.05.20 in CY2007 is 32,640 metric tons (i.e., the amount set out in that note for Guatemala for 2007).

During CY2005, the most recent year for which data is available, Honduras' exports of the sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products described above exceeded its imports of those goods by 56,955 metric tons according to data published by the Central Bank of Honduras. Based on this data, USTR determines that Honduras' trade surplus is 56,955 metric tons. Therefore, in accordance with U.S. Note 25(b)(ii) to subchapter XXII of HTS chapter 98, the aggregate quantity of goods of Honduras that may be entered duty-free under subheading 9822.05.20 in CY2007 is 8,160 metric tons (i.e., the amount set out in that note for Honduras for 2007).

During CY2005, the most recent year for which data is available, Nicaragua's exports of the sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products described above exceeded its imports of those goods by 208,257 metric tons according to data published by the World Trade Atlas. Based on this data, USTR determines that Nicaragua's trade surplus is 208,257 metric tons. Therefore, in accordance with U.S. Note 25(b)(ii) to subchapter XXII of HTS chapter 98, the aggregate quantity of goods of Nicaragua that may be entered duty-free under subheading 9822.05.20 in CY2007 is 22,440 metric tons (i.e., the amount set out in that note for Nicaragua for 2007).

Richard T. Crowder, Chief Agricultural Negotiator.

[FR Doc. E6-21778 Filed 12-20-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3190-W7-P