03-28717. Determination of Total Amounts of the Tariff-Rate Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and Certain Imported Sugars, Syrups, and Molasses (Refined Sugar).

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice establishes the aggregate quantity of 1,156,195 metric tons raw value of sugar that may be entered under the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) provisions of Additional U.S. Note 5(a) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) during fiscal year (FY) 2004. The following TRQ quantities are established for entry: 1,117,195 metric tons raw value of raw sugar under subheading 1701.11.10 of the HTS, and 39,000 metric tons raw value of certain sugars, syrups, and molasses under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10, and 2106.90.44 of the HTS.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard J. Blabey, Director, Import Policies and Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, AgStop 1021, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1021 or telephone [phone], fax to [phone], or email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paragraph (a)(i) of Additional U.S. Note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS provides as follows: “The aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, under subheading 1701.11.10, during any fiscal year, shall not exceed in the aggregate an amount (expressed in terms of raw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of Agriculture, (‘ * * * the Secretary‘), and the aggregate quantity of sugars, syrups and molasses entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10, 1702.90.10 and 2106.90.44, during any fiscal year, shall not exceed in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 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 TRQ 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 for entry during the fiscal year beginning October 1. Allocations of the TRQ amounts among supplying countries and areas will be made by the United States Trade Representative.

Notice: I hereby give notice, in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) of Additional U.S. Note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS, that an aggregate quantity of up to 1,117,195 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, 2003, through September 30, 2004. This TRQ amount may be allocated among supplying countries and areas by the United States Trade Representative.

I will issue Certificates of Quota Eligibility (CQEs) to allow Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines to ship up to 25 percent of their respective initial country allocations at the low-tier tariff during each quarter of FY 2004. Argentina, Australia, Guatemala, and Peru will be allowed to ship up to 50 percent of their respective initial country allocations in the first 6 months of FY 2004. Unentered allocations, during any quarter or 6-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. I have further determined that an aggregate quantity of up to 39,000 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, 2003 through September 30, 2004. I have further determined that out of this quantity of 39,000 metric tons, the quantity of 18,656 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.

Signed at Washington, DC the 4th day of November, 2003.

Ann M. Veneman,

Secretary of Agriculture.