U.S. announces 2014 sugar tariff-rate quotas

   The United States announced the country-specific and “first-come, first-served” in-quota allocations under its tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on imported raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar and sugar-containing products for fiscal year 2014 (Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014).
   TRQs 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 Sept. 12, the U.S. Department of Agriculture established the in-quota quantity for raw cane sugar for fiscal year 2014. The in-quota quantity for the TRQ on raw cane sugar for fiscal year 2014 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 Agreement.
   The allocations are based on each country’s historic 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, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative explained.
   Also on Sept. 12, USDA established the in-quota quantity for fiscal year 2014 refined sugar TRQ at 122,000 MTRV. 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—and an additional 100,000 MTRV for specialty sugars. 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 the total quantity of specialty sugar will be the 1,656 MTRV consistent with the United States’ WTO commitment plus an additional 100,000 MTRV.
   Raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar and sugar-containing products for fiscal year 2014 TRQs may enter the United States starting Oct. 1, USTR said.