[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51672-51673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25379]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 2,300,000
metric tons, raw value, of raw cane sugar that may be entered under
subheading 1701.11.10 during fiscal year 1997 (FY 97), with 600,000
metric tons subject to possible cancellation. This notice in addition
establishes the aggregate quantity of 47,000 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 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS)
during FY 97.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 3, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed or delivered to the Sugar Team
Leader, Import Policy and Programs Division, STOP 1021, Foreign
Agricultural Service, Room 5531, South Building, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250-1000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Hammond (Sugar Team Leader,
Import Policy and Programs Division), 202-720-1061.
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withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, under subheading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sugars, syrups, and molasses entered, or withdrawn from warehouse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
[[Page 51673]]
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), 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 syrups, sugars 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 for entry during
the fiscal year beginning October 1.
The Secretary issued a proposal for the 1997 fiscal year tariff-
rate quota on August 13, 1996, and invited comments from interested
persons. Approximately 40 comments were received and were considered.
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 2,300,000 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, 1996, through September 30, 1997. Of this quantity,
1,700,000 metric tons will be immediately available, to be allocated by
the United States Trade Representative, and the remaining 600,000
metric tons will be held in reserve.
If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the January 1997 World
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) is equal to, or less
than 15.5 percent, the United States Trade Representative will allocate
an additional 200,000 metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane
sugar. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the January 1997 WASDE
is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000 metric tons of the reserved
quantity for raw cane sugar will be automatically cancelled without
further notice.
If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the March 1997 WASDE is
equal to, or less than 15.5 percent, the United States Trade
Representative will allocate an additional 200,000 metric tons of the
reserved quantity for raw cane sugar. If the stocks-to-use ratio
published in the March 1997 WASDE is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000
metric tons of the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be
automatically cancelled without further notice.
If the stocks-to-use ratio published in the May 1997 WASDE is equal
to, or less than, 15.5 percent, the United States Trade Representative
will allocate an additional 200,000 metric tons of the reserved
quantity for raw cane sugar. If the stocks-to-use ratio published in
the May 1997 WASDE is greater than 15.5 percent, 200,000 metric tons of
the reserved quantity for raw cane sugar will be automatically
cancelled without further notice.
I have further determined that an aggregate quantity of up to
47,000 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 withdrawn from
warehouse for consumption during the period from October 1, 1996,
through September 30, 1997. I have further determined that out of this
quantity of 47,000 metric tons, the quantity of 1,656 metric tons, raw
value, is reserved for the importation of speciality sugars. These
quota amounts may be allocated among supplying countries and areas by
the United States Trade Representative.
Interested parties are further notified that shipping patterns will
be established for imports of raw can sugar from the Dominican
Republic, Brazil and the Philippines. Imports from each of these
countries during the first quarter of the fiscal year may not exceed 25
percent of the quantity allocated to such country, nor more than 50
percent of such allocations prior to April 1, 1997, nor more than 75
percent of such allocations prior to July 1, 1997.
Signed at Washington, D.C. on September 27, 1996.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 96-25379 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M