USDA Reassigns Domestic Cane Sugar Allotments (TRQ)

United States Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural Service

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[Federal Register: April 12, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 70)]
[Notices]               
[Page 20305]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ap11-29]                         

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[[Page 20305]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

USDA Reassigns Domestic Cane Sugar Allotments and Increases the 
Fiscal Year 2011 Raw Sugar Tariff-Rate Quota

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture today announced a reassignment of 
surplus sugar under domestic cane sugar allotments of 325,000 short 
tons raw value (STRV) to imports, and increased the fiscal year (FY) 
2011 raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) by the same amount.

DATES: Effective: April 12, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angel F. Gonzalez, Import Policies and 
Export Reporting Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, AgStop 1021, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1021; or by 
telephone (202) 720-2916; or by fax to (202) 720-0876; or by e-mail to 
angel.f.gonzalez@fas.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) 
today announces the reassignment of projected surplus cane sugar 
marketing allotments under the FY 2011 (October 1, 2010-September 30, 
2011) Sugar Marketing Allotment Program. The FY 2011 cane sector 
allotment and cane state allotments are larger than can be fulfilled by 
domestically-produced cane sugar, so the surplus was reassigned to raw 
sugar imports as required by law. Upon review of the domestic sugarcane 
processors' sugar marketing allocations relative to their FY 2011 
expected raw sugar supplies, CCC determined that all sugarcane 
processors had surplus allocation. Therefore, all sugarcane states' 
sugar marketing allotments are reduced with this reassignment. The new 
cane state allotments are Florida, 1,856,850 STRV; Louisiana, 1,577,810 
STRV; Texas, 173,016 STRV; and Hawaii, 283,216 STRV. The FY 2011 sugar 
marketing allotment program will not prevent any domestic sugarcane 
processors from marketing all of their FY 2011 sugar supply.

    On August 5, 2010, USDA established the FY 2011 TRQ for raw cane 
sugar at 1,231,497 STRV (1,117,195 metric tons raw value, MTRV*), the 
minimum the United States is committed under the World Trade 
Organization (WTO) Uruguay Round Agreements. Pursuant to Additional 
U.S. Note 5 to Chapter 17 of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 
and Section 359k of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as 
amended, the Secretary of Agriculture today increased the quantity of 
raw cane sugar imports of the HTS subject to the lower tier of duties 
during FY 2011 by 325,000 STRV. With this increase, the overall FY 2011 
raw sugar TRQ is now 1,556,497 STRV (1,412,030 MTRV). Raw cane sugar 
under this quota must be accompanied by a certificate for quota 
eligibility and may be entered under subheading 1701.11.10 of the HTS 
until September 30, 2011. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 
will allocate this increase among supplying countries and customs 
areas.

    This action is being taken after a determination that additional 
supplies of raw cane sugar are required in the U.S. market. USDA will 
closely monitor stocks, consumption, imports and all sugar market and 
program variables on an ongoing basis, and may make further program 
adjustments during FY 2011 if needed.
    * Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = 1.10231125 short tons.

    Dated: April 6, 2011.
Karis T. Gutter,
Acting Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-8570 Filed 4-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P