USTR Announces FY 2008 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar
USTR Announces FY 2008 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar, Refined and Specialty Sugar and Sugar-Containing Products
Washington, DC -- The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced the country-specific in-quota allocations under the tariff-rate quotas on imported raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar and sugar-containing products for FY 2008 (Oct. 1, 2007 through Sept. 30, 2008). Tariff-rate quotas allow countries to export specified quantities of a product to the United States at a relatively low tariff, but subjects all imports of the product above a pre-determined threshold to a higher tariff.
On August 10, 2007, the Secretary of Agriculture announced sugar program provisions for FY 2008. The in-quota quantity for the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on raw cane sugar for FY 2008 is 1,117,195 metric tons* raw value, which is the minimal amount to which the United States is committed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Uruguay Round Agreements. USTR is allocating the raw cane sugar TRQ of 1,117,195 metric tons raw value to the following countries:
Country FY 2008 Raw Cane Sugar Allocations (metric tons raw value)
Argentina 45,281
Australia 87,402
Barbados 7,371
Belize 11,583
Bolivia 8,424
Brazil 152,691
Colombia 25,273
Congo 7,258
Costa Rica 15,796
Cote d’Ivoire 7,258
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 shipments 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, and certificates for quota eligibility must accompany imports from any country to which an allocation is provided.
On August 10, 2007, the Secretary of Agriculture established the FY 2008 refined sugar tariff-rate quota at 85,503 metric tons raw value for which the sucrose content, by weight in the dry state, must have a polarimeter reading of 99.5 degrees or more. This amount includes the minimum level to which the United States is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round Agreement (22,000 metric tons raw value, of which 1,656 metric tons raw value is specialty sugar) and an additional 63,503 metric tons raw value of specialty sugars. USTR is allocating a total of 10,300 metric tons raw value of refined sugar to Canada, 2,954 metric tons raw value of refined sugar to Mexico, and 7,090 metric tons raw value of refined sugar to be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. The 65,159 metric tons raw value specialty sugar TRQ, which includes the additional 63,503 metric tons raw value of specialty sugar and the specialty sugar allocation of 1,656 metric tons raw value included in the 22,000 metric tons raw value WTO minimum, will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis in five tranches. The first tranche of 1,656 metric tons raw value will open on October 24, 2007. All types of specialty sugars are eligible for entry under this tranche. The second tranche of 22,544 metric tons raw value will open on November 15, 2007. The third, fourth, and fifth tranches of 13,653 metric tons raw value each will open on January 30, 2008; May 14, 2008; and August 27, 2008, respectively. 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.
With respect to the tariff-rate quota of 64,709 metric tons for certain sugar-containing products maintained under Additional U.S. Note 8 to Chapter 17 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, USTR is allocating 59,250 metric tons to Canada. The remainder is available for other countries on a first-come, first-served basis.
*Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = 1.10231125 short tons.
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