Office of the United States Trade Representative

 

USTR Announces FY 2008 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar
08/17/2007

 

 

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.

 

 

 

* * *

 
click here for printer friendly version
 




Help Link Site Map Link Contact Us Link
 
 Search Title Image
Document Library Link