rate quota amount determinations: containing products,

[Federal Register: August 8, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 153)]

[Notices]

[Page 51618-51619]

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

[DOCID:fr08au02-110]

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

2002-2003 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.

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, 2002 and ends September 30, 2003. The allocation for Mexico provided for under the North American Free Trade Agreement will be made at a later date.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2002.

[[Page 51619]]

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Sydow, 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 HTS, 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 tariff-rate quota for raw cane sugar for the period October 1, 2002-September 30, 2003, has been established by the Secretary of Agriculture at 1,117,195 metric tons, raw value (1,231,497 short tons), the minimum to which the United States is committed under the Uruguay Round Agreement. The quantity of 1,117,195 metric tons, raw value is being allocated to the following countries:

FY 2003 Country

Allocation

Argentina.................................................. 45,281 Australia.................................................. 87,402 Barbados...................................................

7,371 Belize..................................................... 11,583 Bolivia....................................................

8,424 Brazil..................................................... 152,691 Colombia................................................... 25,273 Congo......................................................

7,258 Cote d' Ivoire.............................................

7,258 Costa Rica................................................. 15,796 Dominican Republic......................................... 185,335 Ecuador.................................................... 11,583 El Salvador................................................ 27,379 Fiji.......................................................

9,477 Gabon......................................................

7,258 Guatemala.................................................. 50,546 Guyana..................................................... 12,636 Haiti......................................................

7,258 Honduras................................................... 10,530 India......................................................

8,424 Jamaica.................................................... 11,583 Madagascar.................................................

7,258 Malawi..................................................... 10,530 Mauritius.................................................. 12,636 Mexico.....................................................

7,258 Mozambique................................................. 13,690 Nicaragua.................................................. 22,114 Panama..................................................... 30,538 Papua New Guinea...........................................

7,258 Paraguay...................................................

7,258 Peru....................................................... 43,175 Philippines................................................ 142,160 South Africa............................................... 24,220 St. Kitts & Nevis..........................................

7,258 Swaziland.................................................. 16,849 Taiwan..................................................... 12,636 Thailand................................................... 14,743 Trinidad-Tobago............................................

7,371 Uruguay....................................................

7,258 Zimbabwe................................................... 12,636

These allocations are based on the countries' historical trade to the United States. The allocations of the raw cane sugar tariff-rate quota to countries that are net importers of sugar are conditioned on receipt of the appropriate verifications of origin.

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, 2002-September 30, 2003, has been established by the Secretary of Agriculture at 37,000 metric tons, raw value (40,786 short tons), of which the Secretary has reserved 16,656 metric tons (18,360 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. The remaining 7,090 metric tons (7,815 short tons) of the in-quota quantity not reserved for specialty sugars may be supplied by any country on a first-come, first- served basis, subject to any other provision of law. The 16,656 metric tons(18,360 short tons) reserved for specialty sugars is also not being allocated among supplying countries and is available on a first-come, first-served basis, 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 HTS, 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 on a first- come, first-served basis.

Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = 1.10231125 short tons.

Allen F. Johnson, Chief Agriculture Negotiator.

[FR Doc. 02-20008Filed8-7-02; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3190-01-P