USTR Lists Countries Eligible for 2019 Sugar 'Trade Surplus' TRQs
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced eligibility for "trade surplus" tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for sugar originating in certain free trade agreement countries for calendar year 2019. USTR found Colombia, Panama and five members of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) eligible for the TRQ. The agency found the Dominican Republic, Chile, Morocco and Peru do not qualify.
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Five CAFTA-DR Countries, Panama and Colombia Eligible for 2019 'Trade Surplus' TRQs
For Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (all members of CAFTA-DR), Panama and Colombia, exports of sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products each exceeded their imports of those goods in calendar year (CY) 2017. As a result, each of these countries has a trade surplus and is eligible to receive in CY 2019 the following “trade surplus” TRQ amounts to be entered duty-free under CAFTA-DR (HTS 9822.05.20), Panama (HTS 9822.09.17) Colombia (HTS 9822.08.01).
| Costa Rica | 13,860 metric tons |
| El Salvador | 35,360 metric tons |
| Guatemala | 48,880 metric tons |
| Honduras | 10,080 metric tons |
| Nicaragua | 27,720 metric tons |
| Colombia | 55,250 metric tons |
| Panama | 540 metric tons |
Chile, Morocco, Dominican Republic, Panama and Peru Not Eligible for 2018 'Trade Surplus' TRQ
According to USTR, 2017 data indicates that for Chile, the Dominican Republic, Morocco and Peru, imports of sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products exceeded its exports of those goods, resulting in a trade deficit and ineligibility for the “trade surplus” TRQ. Therefore, subject goods from Chile are not eligible to enter the U.S. duty-free under HTS 9911.17.05 in CY 2019. Subject goods from Morocco are not eligible to enter the U.S. duty-free under HTS 9912.17.05 or at preferential tariff rates under 9912.17.10 through 9912.17.85 in CY 2019. In addition, subject goods from Peru are not eligible to enter the U.S. duty-free under HTS 9822.06.10 in CY 2019. Also, subject goods from the Dominican Republic are not eligible to enter the U.S. duty-free under HTS 9822.05.20 in CY 2019.
(Federal Register 11/26/18)