US announces Philippines sugar quota

THE Philippines has been allocated its regular annual sugar quota to the United States amounting to 144,901 metric tons raw value (MTRV) for Crop Year 2012-2013.

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina B. Martin furnished Sun.Star on Thursday a copy of such announcement made by United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk dated September 11.

"This has been our historical quota, being the third country with highest value. This is based on our consistent and reliable deliveries of sugar in compliance with our quota," stated Martin in an emailed message.

"Every year, the Sugar Alliance sends a sugar mission to the United States to assure the US officials of stable and reliable sugar supply from the Philippine sugar industry," said Enrique D. Rojas, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP).

"The announcement of our sugar quota for this crop year indicates that our annual sugar mission is bearing fruit, as the US considers us as a reliable sugar supplier," added Rojas, who, together with NFSP Vice President Jaime G. Golez, joined the sugar mission headed by Martin to Washington last May.

"For our planters, our continued access to the US market assures us of a premium destination for 10 percent of our sugar production this crop year. Hopefully, this will also result to improved prices for our domestic sugar," Rojas added.

Of the 38 countries that were given the privilege of exporting specified quantities of sugar to the United States at a relatively low tariff, the Philippines ranked third in biggest volume.

Dominican Republic got the biggest allocation at 188,908 MTRV, while Brazil received the second biggest at 155,634.

The US annually imports approximately 1.11 million MTRV of raw cane sugar with preferential tariff under its commitments to trade agreements.

Depending on US sugar production and demand, as well as the capability of quota-receiving countries to deliver their commitments, the US sometimes increases the quota.

The Philippines has frequently been granted these quota increases, in recognition of the country's record in fulfilling its obligation to the US sugar market.