IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOD SECURITY AND RURAL

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001528 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR (WBENT) E.O. 12958: NA TAGS: EAGR ETRD JM SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOD SECURITY AND RURAL INVESTMENT ACT PROVISIONS ON RAW SUGAR TARIFF RATE QUOTA REF: STATE 109147 ¶1. On June 15, Econoff spoke with Karl James, General Manager of Jamaica Cane Products Sales Limited and, per reftel instructions, inquired whether Jamaica had shipped, or planned to ship additional sugar to the United States for delivery by September 30. James responded that the 2,821 tons that have already been shipped represented the total amount that would be shipped to the United States prior to September 30, and that no more would be forthcoming from this year's harvest. ¶2. The 2004/2005 season has been the worst on record in Jamaica since the labor strikes of 1938. This year's total production is estimated at 120,000 tons. Not only will Jamaica be unable to fill its U.S. and European quota allotments, but there have been reports of domestic sugar shortages in supermarkets island-wide. TIGHE