WASHINGTON - August 6, 2008 The United States is experiencing a tight market for refined sugar due to significantly reduced domestic refining capacity resulting from the February 2008 explosion of a domestic raw cane sugar refinery and a reduction in this coming crop year's sugar beet production. USDA has therefore decided to increase the FY 2008 refined sugar TRQ.

FY 2008 Refined Sugar TRQ Increase

USDA today announces an increase to the FY 2008 refined sugar TRQ of 300,000 STRV. This sugar must be user-quality, white sugar, not for further processing, and have a sucrose content, by weight in the dry state, corresponding to a reading of 99.5 degrees polarity or more.

This addition to the refined sugar TRQ will open on a first-come, first-served basis on August 14, 2008, and may be entered until December 31, 2008. Sugar entering under this additional refined sugar TRQ must be in containers of 120 metric tons or less. The authority for modification of TRQs is the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Chapter 17, Additional U.S. note 5. The U.S. Trade Representative will shortly announce country allocations of this TRQ increase.

USDA will continue to closely monitor stocks, consumption, imports, and all sugar market and program variables on an ongoing basis. USDA may need to make additional adjustments to import TRQs and domestic marketing allotments to ensure an adequate supply for the domestic market, avoid forfeitures, and prevent or correct market disruptions.

For further information regarding trade programs, contact Ron Lord, Foreign Agricultural Service, at (202) 720-0638, and for the domestic program, contact Dan Colacicco, FSA, at (202) 720-3451.