AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums About Belize Nation U.S. EMBASSY ANNOUNCES SUGAR ALLOCATION FOR BELIZE

On August 10, 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the tariff-rate-quotas (TRQs) for raw and refined sugar for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. On August 17, the U.S. Trade Representative announced the country-by-country tariff-rate quota allocations for raw cane sugar, refined sugar, and sugar-containing products for the 40 participating quota-holding countries. The low-tariff rate allocations cover imports into the United States for the period October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2008, and are based on historical market shares with the United States in accordance with U.S. World Trade Organization obligations.
The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan confirmed today that of the total TRQ of 1,117,195 metric tons (1,231,497 short tons) of raw cane sugar, Belize was allocated 11,583 metric tons (12,768 short tons) for quota year 2008. The FY 2008 allocation for Belize is virtually the same as the allocations in past years. Belize's allocation is comparable to two other Caribbean producers - Ecuador and Jamaica - with substantially larger populations.
Certificates of quota eligibility must accompany imports from countries receiving an allocation.
Further details regarding Belize's allocation, as well as the overall level of the WTO TRQ, may be found on the USDA/FAS and USTR web sites (www.fas.usda.gov and www.ustr.gov).

from a friend...

Under WTO, NAFTA and CAFTA agreements, the U.S. is required to import about 15% of its sugar consumption from around 40 sugar-producing countries, including Belize. The U.S. sugar industry, which is highly efficient, would prefer that the U.S. not import any sugar, whereas foreign sugar producing countries, nearly all of which heavily subsidize their sugar production, would like to export even more to the U.S.

from anotha friend

The Bz quota for european Market has been greatly increased!!

now it will take all the sugar we can produce -- and pays twice the price per ton than does the US.

Sweet!