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[Federal Register: July 16, 2001 (Volume 66,
Number 136)]
[Notices]
[Page 36992-36993]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Request for Public Comments on Administration of the Specialty Sugar Allocation of the Refined Sugar Tariff-Rate Quota
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
SUMMARY: This notice requests public comments on the administration of the allocation of the speciality sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ), which is an administrative breakout of the refined sugar TRQ provided for in Additional U.S. Note 5 (a)(i) of Chapter 17 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
DATES: Comments should be received on or before July 31, 2001 to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed or delivered to the Director, Import Policies and Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., AgStop 1021, Washington DC 20250-1021, or e-mailed to Blabey@fas.usda.gov . Comments received may be inspected between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at room 5531-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard
Blabey at the address above, or telephone at
(202) 720-2916, or e-mail at Blabey@fas.usda.gov
. Persons with disabilities who require this request for comment in an
alternative means of communication (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA is
preparing to establish the FY 2002 speciality sugar allocation under which
imports may enter under subheadings 1701.12.10, 1701.91.10, 1701.99.10,
1702.90.10, 2106.90.44 of the HTS. Imports must be accompanied by a speciality
sugar certificate issued by the USDA Certifying Authority to be eligible to
enter under his TRQ allocation.
USDA is proposing to administer the speciality sugar TRQ in
two tranches. The first tranche would permit imports not exceeding 1,656 metric
tons raw value to enter under this TRQ beginning in October 2001. All speciality
sugars identified in 15 CFR 2011, Subpart B would be eligible for entry. When
combined with other refined sugars, syrups, and molasses entered under the above
HTS subheadings, this tranche would permit sufficient imports of specialty sugar
to satisfy the requirement of Additional U.S. Note 5 of Chapter 17 of the HTS
that the Secretary establish a TRQ of not less than 22,000 metric tons raw value
annually for refined sugar.
A second tranche would permit entry of speciality sugars not
currently commercially produced in the United States or reasonably available
from domestic sources. For FY 2002, USDA proposes to establish the quantity
permitted entry under the second tranche at a level sufficient to assure that
supplies of various types of specialty sugars meet domestic demand at reasonable
prices. USDA would make known the size of the second tranche in its press
release announcing the establishment of the FY 2002 refined sugar TRQ. The
second tranche would be adjusted annually thereafter to reflect changing market
conditions.
USDA also proposes that beginning in FY 2002 all imports of
specialty sugar entered under the TRQ must be entered in bags containing not
more than 50 kilos of sugar stowed in containers. This is the traditional method
of importing specialty sugars and is intended
to facilitate enforcement of the Regulation for specialty sugar.
USDA is soliciting comments on the above proposals for
administering the specialty sugar TRQ and, in particular, solicits comments
regarding appropriate dates for announcing the refined sugar TRQ and for opening
of the second specialty sugar tranche.
Signed at Washington, DC, on June 22, 2001.
Mattie R. Sharpless,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
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