[Federal Register: April 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 72)]
[Notices]               
[Page 18162]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap02-20]                         

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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[[Page 18162]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

 
Determination of Total Amounts and Quota Period for Tariff-Rate 
Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and Certain Imported Sugars, Syrups, and 
Molasses

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice establishes the aggregate quantity of 1,254,983 
metric tons raw value of sugar that may be entered under the provisions 
of additional U.S. note 5(a) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTS) during fiscal year (FY) 2002. The following 
quantities are established for entry: 1,117,195 metric tons raw value 
of raw sugar under subheading 1701.11.10 of the HTS; 34,000 metric tons 
raw value of certain sugars, syrups, and molasses under subheadings 
1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10, and 2106.90.44; and 
137,788 metric tons raw value of sugar from Mexico in accordance with 
the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to the Import Policies 
and Programs Division Director, Foreign Agricultural Service, AgStop 
1021, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 
20250-1021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Blabey (Division Director, 
Import Policy and Programs Division), 202-720-2916.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Paragraph (a)(i) of additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS 
provides, in pertinent part, as follows:
    The aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, under subheading 1701.11.10, during any 
fiscally year, shall not exceed in the aggregate an amount (expressed 
in terms of raw value), not less than 1,117,195 metric tons, as shall 
be established by the Secretary of Agriculture * * *, and the aggregate 
quantity of sugars, syrups and molasses entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, under subheading 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 
1701.99.10, 1702.90.10 and 2106.90.44, during any fiscal year, shall 
not exceed in the aggregate an amount (expressed in terms of raw 
value), not less than 22,000 metric tons, as shall be established by 
the Secretary. With either the aggregate quantity for raw cane sugar or 
the aggregate quantity for sugars, syrups and molasses other than raw 
cane sugar, the Secretary may reserve a quota quantity for the 
importation of specialty sugars as defined by the United States Trade 
Representative.
    These provisions of paragraph (a)(i) of additional U.S. note 5 to 
chapter 17 of the HTS authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to 
establish the total amounts (expressed in terms of raw value) for 
imports of raw cane sugar and certain other sugars, syrups, and 
molasses that may be entered under the subheadings of the HTS subject 
to the lower tier of duties of the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for entry 
during the fiscal year beginning October 1. Allocations of the quota 
amounts among supplying countries and areas will be made by the United 
States Trade Representative.

Notice

    I hereby give notice, in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) of 
additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS, that an aggregate 
quantity of up to 1,254,983 metric tons, raw value, of raw cane sugar 
described in subheading 1701.11.10 of the HTS may be entered or 
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during the period from October 
1, 2001, through September 30, 2002. This TRQ amount may be allocated 
among supplying countries and areas by the United States Trade 
Representative.
    I will issue Certificates of Quota Eligibility (CQEs) to allow 
Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines to ship up to 25 
percent of their respective initial country allocations at the low-tier 
tariff during each quarter of FY 2002. I will allow Mexico to ship up 
to 15 percent, 35 percent, 35 percent, and 15 percent of its NAFTA 
allocation during each quarter of FY 2002. Argentina, Australia, 
Guatemala, and Peru will be allowed to ship up to 50 percent of their 
respective initial country allocations in the first 6 months of FY 
2002. Unentered allocations, during any quarter or 6-month period, may 
be entered in any subsequent period. For all other countries, CQEs 
corresponding to their respective country allocations may be entered at 
the low-tier tariff at any time during the fiscal year.
    I have further determined that an aggregate quantity of up to 
171,788 metric tons raw value of certain sugars, syrups, and molasses 
described in subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 
1702.90.10, and2106.90.44 of the HTS may be entered or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption during the period from October 1, 2001 
through September 30, 2002. I have further determined that out of this 
quantity of 171,788 metric tons, the quantity of 13,656 metric tons raw 
value is reserved for the importation of specialty sugars. These TRQ 
amounts may be allocated among supplying countries and areas by the 
United States Trade Representative.
    Mexico's NAFTA access of 137,788 metric tons raw value may enter 
the U.S. market as either raw or refined sugar, pursuant to Annex 703.2 
of the NAFTA.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. on April 9, 2002.
Ann M. Veneman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 02-9054 Filed 4-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M