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