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On September 4, 2014, the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, published in the Federal Register a notice announcing the establishment of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 (October 1, 2014–September 30, 2015) in-quota aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar at 1,117,195 metric tons raw value (MTRV). This is the minimum amount to which the United States is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round Agreements. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for the allocation of these quantities among supplying countries and areas.
The notice also announces the establishment of the FY 2015 in-quota aggregate quantity of certain sugars, syrups, and molasses (also referred to as refined sugar) at 127,000 MTRV. This quantity includes the minimum amount to which the United States is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round Agreements, 22,000 MTRV, of which 1,656 MTRV is reserved for specialty sugar. An additional amount of 105,000 MTRV is added to the specialty sugar Tariff rate quota (TRQ) for a total of 106,656 MTRV. Because the specialty sugar TRQ is first-come, first-served, tranches are needed to allow for orderly marketing throughout the year. The FY 2015 specialty sugar TRQ will be opened in five tranches. The first tranche, totaling 1,656 MTRV, will open October 10, 2014. All specialty sugars are eligible for entry under this tranche. The second tranche will open on October 24, 2014, and be equal to 38,850 MTRV. The remaining tranches will each be equal to 22,050 MTRV, with the third opening on January 9, 2015; the fourth, on April 10, 2015; and the fifth, on July 10, 2015. 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. |
