83 FR 30687 - Determination of Total Amounts of Fiscal Year 2019 WTO Tariff-Rate Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and Certain Sugars, Syrups and Molasses
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 126 (June 29, 2018)
Office of the Secretary
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 126 (June 29, 2018)
| Page Range | 30687-30688 | |
| FR Document | 2018-14018 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 30687-30688] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-14018] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Secretary Determination of Total Amounts of Fiscal Year 2019 WTO Tariff- Rate Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and Certain Sugars, Syrups and Molasses AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (the Secretary) announces the establishment of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 (October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019) in-quota aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar at 1,117,195 metric tons raw value (MTRV), and the establishment of the FY 2019 in-quota aggregate quantity of certain sugars, syrups, and molasses (also referred to as refined sugar) at 192,000 MTRV. DATES: These quantities are established as of June 29, 2018. ADDRESSES: Souleymane Diaby, Import Policies and Export Reporting Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1021, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-1021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Souleymane Diaby, (202) 720-2916, Souleymane.Diaby@fas.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The provisions of paragraph (a)(i) of the [[Page 30688]] Additional U.S. Note 5, Chapter 17 in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) authorize the Secretary to establish the in-quota tariff-rate quota (TRQ) amounts (expressed in terms of raw value) for imports of raw cane sugar and certain sugars, syrups, and molasses that may be entered under the subheadings of the HTS subject to the lower tier of duties during each fiscal year. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for the allocation of these quantities among supplying countries and areas. Section 359(k) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, requires that at the beginning of the quota year the Secretary of Agriculture establish the TRQs for raw cane sugar and refined sugars at the minimum levels necessary to comply with obligations under international trade agreements, with the exception of specialty sugar. The Secretary's authority under paragraph (a)(i) of the Additional U.S. Note 5, Chapter 17 in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Section 359(k) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, has been delegated to the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (7 CFR 2.26). Notice is hereby given that I have determined, in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) of the Additional U.S. Note 5, Chapter 17 in the HTS and section 359(k) of the 1938 Act, that an aggregate quantity of up to 1,117,195 MTRV of raw cane sugar may be entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during FY 2019. This is the minimum amount to which the United States is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round Agreements. I have further determined that an aggregate quantity of 192,000 MTRV of sugars, syrups, and molasses may be entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during FY 2019. This quantity includes the minimum amount to which the United States is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round Agreements, 22,000 MTRV, of which 20,344 MTRV is established for any sugars, syrups and molasses, and 1,656 MTRV is reserved for specialty sugar. An additional amount of 170,000 MTRV is added to the specialty sugar TRQ for a total of 171,656 MTRV. Because the specialty sugar TRQ is first-come, first-served, tranches are needed to allow for orderly marketing throughout the year. The FY 2019 specialty sugar TRQ will be opened in five tranches. The first tranche, totaling 1,656 MTRV, will open October 1, 2018. All specialty sugars are eligible for entry under this tranche. The second tranche will open on October 10, 2018, and be equal to 50,000 MTRV. The third tranche of 50,000 MTRV will open on January 23, 2019. The fourth tranche of 35,000 MTRV will open on April 17, 2019. The fifth tranche will open on July 17, 2019, and be equal to 35,000 MTRV. 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. * Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = 1.10231125 short tons. Dated: June 25, 2018. Jason Hafemeister, Acting Under Secretary, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. [FR Doc. 2018-14018 Filed 6-28-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-10-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2018 / Notices 30687
whether the implementation or expansion of accessibility, suitability, usability, and adoption of those technologies as they
an eCMS would promote the objectives burden of the eCMS for its likely user mature in order to ensure the integrity of
identified in Recommendation 1 as well as population, and whether creating exceptions agency information systems.
the agency’s statutory mission without to electronic filing procedures would assist 6. Federal adjudicative agencies that
impairing the fairness of proceedings or the in maintaining sufficient public access. decide to implement or expand an eCMS
participants’ satisfaction with them. This d. Create a map or flow chart of their should consider how to analyze and leverage
consideration of the costs and benefits adjudicative processes in order to identify data that is captured by the eCMS to improve
should include the following non-exclusive the needs of an eCMS. This involves listing their adjudicative processes, including
factors: the tasks performed by employees at each through the use of natural language
a. Whether the agency’s budget would step in the process to ensure the eCMS processing, machine learning, and predictive
allow for investment in appropriate and captures all of the activities that occur while algorithms. Agencies should consider:
secure technology as well as adequate the case is pending, from initial filing to final a. Evaluating how eCMS features could
training for agency staff. resolution. It also includes identifying how generate the types of data that would be
b. Whether the use of an eCMS would members of the public or other non-agency useful for evaluating the effectiveness of their
reduce case processing times and save costs, users will access and interact with the eCMS. adjudicative processes and policies.
including printing of paper and the use of To the extent practical, this effort should also b. Capturing and analyzing such data about
staff resources to store, track, retrieve, and involve mapping or flow-charting the legal adjudicative processes and policies to detect
maintain paper records. and policy requirements to decisional and define problem areas that present
c. Whether the use of an eCMS would outcomes. opportunities for improvement.
foster greater accessibility and better public e. Put in place a management structure c. Upon identification of areas for
service. capable of: (1) Restoring normal operations improvement in the adjudication process,
d. Whether users of an eCMS, such as after an eCMS goes down (incident
taking corrective action, refining performance
administrative law judges, other adjudicators, management); (2) eliminating recurring
goals, and measuring performance under the
other agency staff, parties, witnesses, problems and minimizing the impact of
newly improved process.
attorneys or other party representatives, and problems that cannot be prevented (problem
d. Hiring staff trained in data science to
reviewing officials would find the eCMS management); (3) overseeing a new release of
an eCMS with multiple technical or facilitate data analysis and giving that staff
beneficial. access to subject matter experts within
e. Whether the experiences of other functional changes (release management); (4)
handling modifications, improvements, and agencies.
agencies’ eCMS implementations provide e. Collaborating with other agencies on best
insight regarding other factors which may repairs to the eCMS to minimize service
interruptions (change management); and (5) practices for data analytics.
bear on the manner of an eCMS
identifying, controlling, and maintaining the [FR Doc. 2018–14075 Filed 6–28–18; 8:45 am]
implementation.
versions of all of the components of the BILLING CODE 6110–01–P
3. The following possible eCMS features,
eCMS (configuration management).
currently implemented by some federal
f. Establish a ‘‘service desk,’’ which is a
adjudicative agencies, should be considered
central hub for reporting issues with the
by other agencies for their potential benefits: eCMS, providing support to eCMS users, and DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
a. Web access to the eCMS that allows receiving feedback on the resolution of
parties the flexibility to file a claim, problems. A service desk should gather Office of the Secretary
complaint, or petition; submit documents; statistics of eCMS issues in order to help
and obtain case information at any time. guide future improvements of the eCMS. A Determination of Total Amounts of
b. Streamlining of agency tasks in service desk could also enable eCMS users to Fiscal Year 2019 WTO Tariff-Rate
maintaining a case file, such as sorting and offer suggestions for improving the eCMS. Quotas for Raw Cane Sugar and
organizing case files, providing simultaneous g. Plan adequate and timely training for
access to files and documents by authorized
Certain Sugars, Syrups and Molasses
staff on the use of the eCMS.
users, tracking deadlines and elapsed age of 5. Federal adjudicative agencies that AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
a case, notifying parties of new activity in a decide to implement or expand an eCMS
case, and pre-populating forms with data ACTION: Notice.
must do so in such a way that appropriate
from the case file. protections for privacy, transparency, and
c. The comprehensive capture of structured
SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of
security are preserved by: the Department of Agriculture (the
and unstructured data that allows for robust a. Ensuring that the agency’s compliance
data analysis to identify opportunities for Secretary) announces the establishment
with the Privacy Act, other statutes
improving an agency’s operations, budget protecting privacy, and the agency’s own of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 (October 1,
formulation, and reporting. privacy regulations and policies remains 2018–September 30, 2019) in-quota
d. Streamlined publication of summary undiminished by the implementation or aggregate quantity of raw cane sugar at
data on agency operations. expansion of an eCMS. 1,117,195 metric tons raw value
4. Federal adjudicative agencies that b. To the extent it is consistent with (MTRV), and the establishment of the
decide to implement or expand an eCMS Recommendation 5(a) above, making case FY 2019 in-quota aggregate quantity of
should plan and manage their budgets and information available online to parties and,
operations in a way that balances the needs
certain sugars, syrups, and molasses
when appropriate, the public, taking into
of a sustainable eCMS with the possibility of (also referred to as refined sugar) at
account both the interests of transparency (as
future funding limitations. Those agencies embodied in, for example, the Freedom of 192,000 MTRV.
should also: Information Act’s proactive disclosure DATES: These quantities are established
a. Consider the costs associated with requirements) as well as the benefits of as of June 29, 2018.
building, maintaining, and improving the having important adjudicative documents ADDRESSES: Souleymane Diaby, Import
eCMS. publicly available.
b. Consider whether the adoption of an Policies and Export Reporting Division,
c. Adopting security measures, such as
eCMS requires modifications of an agency’s encryption, to ensure that information held Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S.
procedural rules. This would include in an eCMS cannot be accessed or changed Department of Agriculture, Stop 1021,
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
addressing whether the paper or electronic by unauthorized persons. 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
version of a case file will constitute the d. Ensuring that sensitive information is Washington, DC 20250–1021.
official record of a case and whether filing not provided to unintended third parties FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
methods and deadlines need to be changed. through private email services, unsecured Souleymane Diaby, (202) 720–2916,
c. Consider whether to require non-agency data transmission, insider threats, or
individuals to file claims, complaints, otherwise. Souleymane.Diaby@fas.usda.gov.
petitions, and other papers using the eCMS. e. Keeping track of the evolution of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Such consideration should include the security technologies and considering the provisions of paragraph (a)(i) of the
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![30688 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2018 / Notices
Additional U.S. Note 5, Chapter 17 in will open on October 10, 2018, and be 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118,
the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule equal to 50,000 MTRV. The third Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
(HTS) authorize the Secretary to tranche of 50,000 MTRV will open on Any comments we receive may be
establish the in-quota tariff-rate quota January 23, 2019. The fourth tranche of viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/
(TRQ) amounts (expressed in terms of 35,000 MTRV will open on April 17, #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0034 or
raw value) for imports of raw cane sugar 2019. The fifth tranche will open on in our reading room, which is located in
and certain sugars, syrups, and molasses July 17, 2019, and be equal to 35,000 Room 1141 of the USDA South
that may be entered under the MTRV. The second, third, fourth, and Building, 14th Street and Independence
subheadings of the HTS subject to the fifth tranches will be reserved for Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal
lower tier of duties during each fiscal organic sugar and other specialty sugars reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30
year. The Office of the U.S. Trade not currently produced commercially in p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Representative (USTR) is responsible for the United States or reasonably holidays. To be sure someone is there to
the allocation of these quantities among available from domestic sources. help you, please call (202) 799–7039
supplying countries and areas. * Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = before coming.
Section 359(k) of the Agricultural 1.10231125 short tons. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, Joanne Serrels, Biotechnologist,
Dated: June 25, 2018.
requires that at the beginning of the Biotechnology Regulatory Services,
quota year the Secretary of Agriculture Jason Hafemeister,
Acting Under Secretary, Trade and Foreign APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147,
establish the TRQs for raw cane sugar Riverdale, MD 20737–1238; (301) 851–
and refined sugars at the minimum Agricultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018–14018 Filed 6–28–18; 8:45 am] 3867.
levels necessary to comply with
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
obligations under international trade BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
agreements, with the exception of Background
specialty sugar.
The Secretary’s authority under DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The Plant Protection Act (PPA)
paragraph (a)(i) of the Additional U.S. authorizes the Animal and Plant Health
Note 5, Chapter 17 in the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Inspection Service (APHIS) to protect
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Service plant health in the United States. Under
Section 359(k) of the Agricultural that authority, APHIS currently
Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, [Docket No. APHIS–2018–0034] regulates the introduction (movement
has been delegated to the Under into the United States or interstate, or
Notice of Intent To Prepare an release into the environment) of
Secretary for Trade and Foreign
Environmental Impact Statement; genetically engineered (GE) organisms
Agricultural Affairs (7 CFR 2.26).
Notice is hereby given that I have Movement and Outdoor Use of Certain that may present a plant pest risk
determined, in accordance with Genetically Engineered Organisms through its regulations in 7 CFR part
paragraph (a)(i) of the Additional U.S. 340, ‘‘Introduction of Organisms and
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health
Note 5, Chapter 17 in the HTS and Products Altered or Produced Through
Inspection Service, USDA.
section 359(k) of the 1938 Act, that an Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Pests or Which There Is Reason to
aggregate quantity of up to 1,117,195
programmatic environmental impact Believe Are Plant Pests.’’ These
MTRV of raw cane sugar may be entered
statement. regulations are intended to protect
or withdrawn from warehouse for
consumption during FY 2019. This is SUMMARY: We are advising the public against plant pest risks to plant health
the minimum amount to which the that the Animal and Plant Health by providing for the safe importation,
United States is committed under the Inspection Service (APHIS) plans to interstate movement, or release into the
WTO Uruguay Round Agreements. I prepare a programmatic environmental environment of certain GE organisms.
have further determined that an impact statement (EIS) in connection APHIS’ regulation of certain GE
aggregate quantity of 192,000 MTRV of with potential changes to the organisms to protect plant health is
sugars, syrups, and molasses may be regulations regarding the importation, aligned with the Federal Coordinated
entered or withdrawn from warehouse interstate movement, and environmental Framework for the Regulation of
for consumption during FY 2019. This release of certain genetically engineered Biotechnology (henceforth referred to as
quantity includes the minimum amount organisms. This notice identifies the Coordinated Framework), the
to which the United States is committed potential issues to be evaluated in the comprehensive Federal regulatory
under the WTO Uruguay Round EIS and requests public comments to policy for ensuring the safety of
Agreements, 22,000 MTRV, of which define the scope of the alternatives and biotechnology research and products in
20,344 MTRV is established for any environmental impacts and issues for the United States. The Coordinated
sugars, syrups and molasses, and 1,656 APHIS to consider. Framework describes how Federal
MTRV is reserved for specialty sugar. agencies will use their regulatory
DATES: We will consider all comments
An additional amount of 170,000 MTRV authorities under existing Federal
that we receive on or before July 30, statutes to ensure public health and
is added to the specialty sugar TRQ for
2018. environmental safety while maintaining
a total of 171,656 MTRV.
Because the specialty sugar TRQ is ADDRESSES: You may submit comments regulatory flexibility to avoid impeding
first-come, first-served, tranches are by either of the following methods: the growth of the biotechnology
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
needed to allow for orderly marketing • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to industry. The Coordinated Framework
throughout the year. The FY 2019 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docket sets forth a science- and risk-based
specialty sugar TRQ will be opened in Detail;D=APHIS-2018-0034. approach for the oversight of activities
five tranches. The first tranche, totaling • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: that introduce biotechnology products
1,656 MTRV, will open October 1, 2018. Send your comment to Docket No. into the environment and describes the
All specialty sugars are eligible for entry APHIS–2018–0034, Regulatory Analysis roles and responsibilities for the three
under this tranche. The second tranche and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station major Federal agencies involved in
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Document Created: 2018-06-29 01:13:05
Document Modified: 2018-06-29 01:13:05
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | These quantities are established as of June 29, 2018. | |
| Contact | Souleymane Diaby, (202) 720-2916, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 30687 |
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