[Federal Register: September 22, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 183)] [Notices] [Page 50553-50554] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22se98-38] ======================================================================== 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. ======================================================================== [[Page 50553]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice establishes the aggregate quantity of 1,614,937 metric tons, raw value, of raw cane sugar that may be entered under subheading 1701.11.10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) during fiscal year (FY) 1999, with 450,000 metric tons subject to possible cancellation. This notice in addition establishes the aggregate quantity of 50,000 metric tons (raw value basis) for certain sugars, syrups and molasses that may be entered under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10, and 2106.90.44 of the HTS during FY 1999. EFFECTIVE DATE: September 22, 1998. ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to the Import Policy and Programs Division Director, Foreign Agricultural Service, Ag Stop 1021, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Williams (Team Leader, 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5 to chapter 17 of the HTS provides in pertinent part as follows: The aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, under subheading 1701.11.10, during any fiscal year, shall not exceed in the aggregate an amount (expressed in terms of raw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 subheadings 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 can 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. USDA issued a news release on June 29, 1998, soliciting comments regarding the FY 1999 TRQ administrative approach. Approximately 30 comments were received. Most of the comments were supportive of the current administrative approach, although many suggested changes that would lead to higher or lower prices in the U.S. domestic market. Some suggested a change in the trigger level for the allocation or cancellation of the reserved TRQ quantity. Those suggestions ranged from a level of 13.5 percent to 20.5 percent, with the producers supporting a lower trigger level and the refiners and manufacturers supporting a higher trigger level. One of the comments suggested abolishment of the current TRQ administrative approach, recommending a return to an ad hoc method of determining the TRQ. After carefully considering those comments, USDA will use a 15.5 percent trigger for the allocation or cancellation of 450,000 metric tons, 150,000 tons respectively, in January, March and May. Allocations of the quota amounts among supplying countries and areas will be made by the United States Trade Representative. Notice Notice is hereby given that I have determined, in accordance with paragraph (a) of additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS, that an aggregate quantity of up to 1,614,937 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, 1998, through September 30, 1999. Of this quantity, 1,164,937 metric tons will be immediately available, to be allocated by the United States Trade Representative, and the remaining 450,000 metric tons will be held in reserve. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the January 1999 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is equal to, or less than, 15.5 percent (rounded to the nearest tenth), an additional 150,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be available for allocation. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the January 1999 WASDE is greater than 15.5 (rounded to the nearest tenth), 150,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be automatically canceled without further notice. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the March 1999 WASDE is equal to, or less than, 15.5 percent (rounded to the nearest tenth), an additional 150,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be available for allocation. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the March 1999 WASDE is greater than 15.5 percent (rounded to the nearest tenth), 150,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be automatically canceled without further notice. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the May 1999 WASDE is equal to, or less than, 15.5 percent (rounded to the nearest tenth), an additional 150,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be available for allocation. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the May 1999 WASDE is greater than 15.5 percent (rounded to the nearest tenth), 150,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be automatically canceled without further notice. I have further determined that an aggregate quantity of up to 50,000 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, and 2106.90.44 of the HTS may be entered or [[Page 50554]] withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during the period from October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999. I have further determined that out of this quantity of 50,000 metric tons, the quantity of 4,656 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. I will issue Certificates of Quota Eligibility (CQEs) to allow the Philippines, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic to ship up to 25 percent of their respective initial country allocations at the low-tier tariff during each quarter of FY 1999. Australia, Guatemala, Argentina, Peru, Panama, El Salvador, Colombia, South Africa, and Nicaragua will be allowed to ship up to 50 percent of their respective initial country allocations in the first 6 months of FY 1999. Unentered allocations, during any quarter or six 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. If additional country allocations result from the January, March, and May blocks of the reserved TRQ quantity, they may be entered subsequent to their announcement by the United States Trade Representative. Mexico's North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) access to the U.S. market is established at 25,000 metric tons raw value. That access will be for either raw or refined sugar, but total access under the refined sugar allocation and the raw-sugar allocation is not to exceed 25,000 metric tons. Mexico's NAFTA access for either raw or refined sugar is established in Annex 703.2. Signed at Washington, DC, on September 16, 1998. Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture. [FR Doc. 98-25292 Filed 9-21-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-10-M