SUGAR TARIFF RATE QUOTA: JAMAICAN RESPONSE

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000268 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USTR (SHARON BOMER),USDA/FAS (RON LORD), EB/TPP/ABT/ATP (HUDAK) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD JM SUBJECT: SUGAR TARIFF RATE QUOTA: JAMAICAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 14374 ¶1. (U) On February 1, Econoff delivered reftel talking points by fax to Ambassador Derrick Heaven, Executive Chairman of the Jamaica Sugar Industry Authority (SIA). Ambassador Heaven replied by fax on February 2. ¶2. (U) Ambassador Heaven,s response was as follows: Begin text: The Sugar Industry Authority has programmed for the 2005/2006 crop to export 15,809 metric tonnes (MT) of sugar to the United States, which is our TRQ to date. We have made arrangements to ship 5,000 MT between March 1 & 3 to the Savanna (sic) Refinery. The balance is currently scheduled to be shipped between July and August, which is the time when we traditionally ship the U.S. quota. We are also gearing up to accept any additional amount that the USTR/USDA may assign to us. End text. (Note: 15,800 MT is 17,426 U.S. short tons. End note.) ¶3. (U) Some Jamaican officials seem to expect that the United States will increase the island,s TRQ. According to press reports, Jamaican sugar production is almost double the year-to-date figure as compared with this time last year. An article in the February 2 Observer newspaper quoted Karl James, Managing Director of Jamaica Cane Products Sales, saying: &They have indicated the possibility of buying more sugar from us and we are hoping to get the exact numbers soon.8 Econoff's repeated attempts to contact the SIA by telephone to determine whether this statement was a result of SIA releasing the talking points to Mr. James have been unsuccessful. JOHNSON