The Department of Agriculture announced the establishment of the tariff rate quota for raw cane sugar and other sugars, including syrups and molasses, for fiscal year 2023 (Oct. 1, 2022 - Sept. 30, 2023). The FY23 import TRQ for raw cane sugar will be established at 1,117,195 metric tons raw value (MTRV), the minimum amount to which the U.S. is committed under the World Trade Organization Uruguay Round Agreements Act, effective July 11. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will allocate this TRQ among supplying countries and customs areas.
USDA is increasing the fiscal year 2022 tariff rate quota for raw cane sugar by 90,718 metric tons raw value, it said in a notice released July 7. The increase brings the total FY22 TRQ, originally set at the 1,117,195 MTRV minimum mandated by the World Trade Organization, to 1,207,913 MTRV, USDA said. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will allocate the increase among supplying countries and customs areas. Raw cane sugar under this quota must be accompanied by a certificate for quota eligibility. USDA also is extending the period for entry under the FY22 raw cane sugar TRQ by one month, until Oct. 31.
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service seeks input on a new online system it is developing to manage its sugar reexport programs. The new system would replace the Sugars Users Group Accounting and Report System (SUGARS) it launched in 2004, which is used for the Refined Sugar Re-Export Program, the Sugar Containing Products Re-Export Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program. “This request for information (RFI) seeks input regarding the new online system from all stakeholders involved directly or indirectly in the Sugar Re-Export Programs,” FAS said. “This stakeholder input will inform FAS’ efforts in developing a new, more efficient system to provide quality service to program users.” Comments are due Aug. 8.
USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation announced June 30 that Special Import Quota #11 for upland cotton will be established July 7, allowing importation of 11,099,187 kilograms (50,978 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Oct. 4, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Jan. 2, 2023. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the February through April 2022 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation announced June 23 that Special Import Quota #10 for upland cotton will be established June 30, allowing importation of 11,099,187 kilograms (50,978 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Sept. 27, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Dec. 26, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the February through April 2022 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is loosening requirements on importation of bovines and bovine products from Bolivia and the United Kingdom's zone of Jersey, it said in a notice released June 23. APHIS will reclassify them has having negligible risk, concurring with recommendations recently issued by the World Organization for Animal Health, the agency said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service released on June 23 a notice listing ongoing international sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention and the North American Plant Protection Organization. Comments on the standards being considered may be submitted at any time, APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to allow imports of baby kiwi fruit from France, it said June 22. An agency pest risk analysis found “the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds,” APHIS said. If APHIS finalizes the decision, it will allow imports into the continental United States, subject to the phytosanitary requirements specified by the agency. Comments are accepted through Aug. 22.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will delay until Oct. 1 its new policy of requiring all importers of earthworms to obtain a permit, and allowing imports of earthworms for environmental release in the U.S. only from countries free of foot-and-mouth disease, the agency said June 17. The new requirements had been set to take effect July 1 (see 2205230014).
USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation announced June 16 that Special Import Quota #9 for upland cotton will be established June 23, allowing importation of 11,099,187 kilograms (50,978 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Sept. 20, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Dec. 19, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the February through April 2022 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.