Categories: Stories

US gives Zimbabwe 2 000 tonne sugar quota

The United States has allocated Zimbabwe a 2 131 tonne sugar quota for the current year, though Zimbabwe is still under US sanctions which were renewed for another year in March this year.

Zimbabwe is among 21 countries, with only four from Africa, which have been allocated 108 862 tonnes of cane sugar. The other African countries are South Africa with 4 085 tonnes, Mozambique with 2 309 tonnes and Malawi with 1 776 tonnes.

Some trading agencies have cited the US Patriot Act, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act as US legislation that currently bars trade with Zimbabwe or Zimbabwean companies.

Below is the full statement released by the United States Trade Representative on the sugar quotas this week. 

USTR Updates Additional FY 2011 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar

Washington, D.C. – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced adjusted country-specific allocations of additional Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 in-quota quantity of the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for imported raw cane sugar. TRQs allow countries to export specified quantities of a product to the United States at a relatively low tariff, but subject all imports of the product above a pre-determined threshold to a higher tariff.

On June 21, 2011, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture announced an additional in-quota quantity for the TRQ for raw cane sugar for the remainder of FY 2011 (ending September 30, 2011) in the amount of 108,862 metric tons* raw value (MTRV). This quantity is in addition to the minimum amount to which the United States is committed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Uruguay Round Agreements.

Based on additional consultations with quota holding countries, USTR is adjusting the quantity of 108,862 MTRV allocated on June 21, 2011 to the following countries in the amounts specified below:

Country

Argentina

FY 2011 Additional Allocation

7,636

Australia

Belize

Bolivia

Brazil

Colombia

Costa Rica

Ecuador

El Salvador

Guatemala

Guyana

India

Malawi

Mozambique

Nicaragua

Panama

Peru

Philippines

South Africa

Thailand

Zimbabwe

14,740

1,954

1,421

25,750

4,262

2,664

1,954

4,617

8,524

2,131

1,421

1,776

2,309

3,729

5,150

7,281

2,841

4,085

2,486

2,131

Additionally, based on follow-up country consultations, the Office of the United States Trade Representative is also today reallocating 16,807 MTRV of the minimum amount of the original TRQ for raw cane sugar to the Philippines. This results in an overall increased allocation of 19,648 MTRV for the Philippines.

These allocations are based on the countries’ historical shipments to the United States. The allocations of the raw cane sugar TRQ to countries that are net importers of sugar are conditioned on receipt of the appropriate verifications of origin, and certificates for quota eligibility must accompany imports from any country to which an allocation is provided.

*Conversion factor: 1 metric ton = 1.10231125 short tons.

(19 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

ZiG loses steam, falls against US dollar for five consecutive days

The Zimbabwe Gold fell against the United States dollar for five consecutive days from Monday…

November 22, 2024

Indian think tank says Starlink is a wolf in sheep’s clothing

An Indian think tank has described Starlink, a satellite internet service provider which recently entered…

November 18, 2024

ZiG firms against US dollar for 10 days running but people still do not have confidence in the currency

Zimbabwe’s new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), firmed against the United States dollars for 10…

November 16, 2024

Zimbabwe among the top countries with the widest gap between the rich and poor

Zimbabwe is among the top 30 countries in the world with the widest gap between…

November 14, 2024

Can the ZiG sustain its rally against the US dollar?

Zimbabwe’s battered currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, which was under attack until the central bank devalued…

November 10, 2024

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024