Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINGSTON268
2006-02-07 20:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

SUGAR TARIFF RATE QUOTA: JAMAICAN RESPONSE

Tags:  EAGR ETRD JM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

072019Z Feb 06
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

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