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USTR Announces FY 2011 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar, Refined and Specialty Sugar and Sugar-Containing Products

August 12, 2010

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 Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 (Oct. 1, 2010 through Sept. 30, 2011). Tariff-rate quotas allow countries to export specified quantities of a product to the United States at a relatively low tariff, but subject all imports of the product above a pre-determined threshold to a higher tariff.

On July 30, 2010, the Secretary of Agriculture announced sugar program provisions for FY 2011. The in-quota quantity for the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on raw cane sugar for FY 2011 is 1,117,195 metric tons* raw value (MTRV), which is the minimum 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 MTRV to the following countries in the quantities specified below:

Country FY 2011 Raw Cane Sugar Allocations (MTRV)

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 TRQ 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 July 30, 2010, the Secretary of Agriculture announced the establishment of the in-quota quantity for the FY 2011 refined sugar TRQ at 99,111 MTRV 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 quantity to which the United States is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round Agreement (22,000 MTRV, of which 1,656 MTRV is reserved for specialty sugar). USTR is allocating a total of 10,300 MTRV of refined sugar to Canada, 2,954 MTRV of refined sugar to Mexico, and 7,090 MTRV of refined sugar to be administered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Imports of all specialty sugar will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis in five tranches. USDA has announced that the total quantity of specialty sugar will be the 1,656 MTRV included in the WTO minimum and an additional 77,111 MTRV. The first tranche of 1,656 MTRV will open on October 20, 2010. All types of specialty sugars are eligible for entry under this tranche. The second tranche of 27,500 MTRV will open on November 10, 2010. The third, fourth, and fifth tranches of 16,537 MTRV each will open on January 12, 2011; May 18, 2011; and August 24, 2011, 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 in-quota amount of 64,709 metric tons (MT) for the TRQ on 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 MT to Canada. The remainder is available for other countries on a first-come, first-served basis.

Raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar and sugar-containing products volumes for FY2011 TRQs may enter the United States as of October 1, 2010.

*Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = 1.10231125 short tons.