September 11, 2012
Washington, D.C. – United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk 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) 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013). 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 September 7, 2012, the Secretary of Agriculture announced sugar program provisions for FY 2013. The in-quota quantity for the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on raw cane sugar for FY 2013 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). The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is allocating the raw cane sugar TRQ of 1,117,195 MTRV to the following countries in the quantities specified below:
Country FY 2013 Raw Cane Sugar Allocations (MTRV)
Argentina 46,154
Australia 89,087
Barbados 7,513
Belize 11,807
Bolivia 8,587
Brazil 155,634
Colombia 25,760
Congo 7,258
Costa Rica 16,100
Cote d'Ivoire 7,258
Dominican Republic 188,908
Ecuador 11,807
El Salvador 27,907
Fiji 9,660
Gabon 7,258
Guatemala 51,520
Guyana 12,880
Haiti 7,258
Honduras 10,733
India 8,587
Jamaica 11,807
Madagascar 7,258
Malawi 10,733
Mauritius 12,880
Mozambique 13,953
Nicaragua 22,540
Panama 31,127
Papua New Guinea 7,258
Paraguay 7,258
Peru 44,007
Philippines 144,901
South Africa 24,687
St. Kitts & Nevis 7,258
Swaziland 17,174
Thailand 15,027
Trinidad & Tobago 7,513
Uruguay 7,258
Zimbabwe 12,880
These allocations are based on each country’s 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 September 7, 2012, the Secretary of Agriculture announced the establishment of the in-quota quantity for the FY 2013 refined sugar TRQ at 117,254 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 Agreement (22,000 MTRV, of which 1,656 MTRV is reserved for specialty sugar). USTR is allocating 12,050 MTRV of refined sugar to Canada and 8,294 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 consistent with our WTO commitment plus an additional 95,254 MTRV. The first tranche of 1,656 MTRV will open on October 12, 2012. All types of specialty sugars are eligible for entry under this tranche. The second tranche of 35,245 MTRV will open on October 26, 2012. The third, fourth, and fifth tranches of 20,003 MTRV each will open on January 11, 2013; April 11, 2013; and July 11, 2013, 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 quantity of 64,709 metric tons (MT) for the TRQ for imports of 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 for FY2013 TRQs may enter the United States as of October 1, 2012.
*Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = 1.10231125 short tons.
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