Sugar
Under Tariff Rate Quotas -
Licensing
Applications and Reporting Procedures
Sugar Under
Tariff Rate Quotas
(Raw Sugar TRQ; Refine
Sugar TRQ; Specialty Sugar TRQ)
Licensing Applications and
Reporting Procedures
How to
Apply for a Specialty Sugar Certificate
Sugar
imported (entered) into U.S. Customs territory
under the specialty sugar TRQ must be
accompanied by a specialty sugar certificate
valid on that entry date.
FY 2007
(October 1, 2007 – September 30, 2007) Specialty
Sugar TRQ
On
7/27/06, the Department established the FY 2007
specialty sugar TRQ. On 7/31/07, the FY 2007
specialty sugar TRQ was increased by 20,000
short tons (18,144 metric tons) (Link to July 31
Press Release), and this 6th tranche
of the FY 2007 specialty sugar TRQ will open
September 10, 2007.
Specialty
sugar certificates issued for the FY 2007 4th
(5/1/07) or 5th (7/24/07) tranches of
the FY 2007 specialty sugar TRQ will be valid
for the 6th tranche. New
applications will also be accepted.
FY 2008
Specialty Sugar TRQ
USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2008 Sugar Program (08/10/07)
The
tranches of the FY 2008 specialty sugar TRQ will
open as follows:
Tranche 1
– Opens 10/24/2007 – 1,656 metric tons
Tranche 2
– Opens 11/15/2007 – 22,544 metric tons
Tranche 3
– Opens 01/30/2008 – 13,653 metric tons
Tranche 4
– Opens 05/14/2008 – 13,653 metric tons
Tranche 5
– Opens 08/27/2008 – 13,653 metric tons
The
second, third, fourth and fifth tranches will be
reserved for organic sugar and other specialty
sugars not currently produced commercially in
the United States or reasonably available from
domestic sources.
What is
Specialty Sugar?
Specialty
sugar means: brown slab sugar (also known as
slab sugar candy), pearl sugar (also known as
perl sugar, perle sugar, and nibs sugar),
vanilla sugar, rock candy, demerara sugar,
dragees for cooking and baking, fondant (a
creamy blend of sugar and glucose), ti light
sugar (99.2% sugar with the residual comprised
of the artificial sweeteners aspartame and
acesulfame K), caster sugar, golden syrup,
ferdiana granella grossa, golden granulated
sugar, muscovado, molasses sugar, sugar
decorations, sugar cubes, and other sugars, as
determined by the United States Trade
Representative, that would be considered
specialty sugar products within the normal
commerce of the United States. Organic sugar is
considered a specialty sugar. In addition,
specialty sugars are sugar, syrups, or molasses
described in subheading 1701.11.10, 1701.12.10,
1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10, or
2106.90.44 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
of the United States. However, the specialty
sugar TRQ does not include HTS tariff line
1701.11.10, and is limited to those sugars whose
content of sugar by weight, in the dry state,
corresponds to a polarimeter reading of 99.5
degrees or more:.
An
importer or the importer's agent must present a
specialty sugar certificate, valid for that
tranche, to the appropriate customs official
when the specialty sugar enters the customs
territory of the United States. Entry of
specialty sugar within the TRQ shall be allowed
only in conformity with the conditions and
limitations stated in the certificate.
Issuance
of a certificate does not guarantee the entry of
any specific shipment of specialty sugar at a
zero or nominal rate of duty, but only permits
entry of such sugar if the TRQ is not already
filled.
Importers
are encouraged to check the U.S. Customs and
Border Protection web site for updated Quota
Book Transmittal (QBT) reports for information
about any special procedures which may apply on
TRQ opening dates: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/
To apply
for a specialty sugar certificate, fax, email,
or courier the following information:
-
The name and street address of the
applicant; must be an importer with a US
place of business.
-
A statement of the anticipated quantity of
specialty sugars to be imported;
-
The appropriate six digit HTS subheading
number;
-
A description of the specialty sugar the
importer expects to import during the period
of the certificate, including the
manufacturer's or exporter's usual trade
name or designation. A description of the
traditional use of such specialty sugar, and
the importer's intended use of such
specialty sugar;
-
Importers of organic sugar are asked to
supply a copy of the certification(s);
-
Sufficient evidence to permit the Certifying
Authority to make a reasonable determination
that such sugars are specialty sugars within
the definition of specialty sugars in this
subpart;
-
The name of the anticipated consumer of the
specialty sugars, if known at time of
application; and
-
The anticipated date of entry, if known at
time of application.
Applications
may be faxed to: 202-720-0876
or emailed
to: sugars@usda.gov
or sent by
courier to:
Import and
Trade Support Programs Division
Office of Trade Programs, FAS/USDA
Suite 400
1250 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20024
For further
information, please call 202-720-0638.
