Determination of Trade Surplus in Certain Sugar and Syrup Goods and Sugar-Containing Products of Chile, Morocco, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, and Panama

Brief takeaway: USTR has published its annual trade-surplus determinations that help set how much sugar and sugar-containing product from certain FTA partners can receive preferential tariff treatment.

What changed: According to the notice, USTR is providing notice of its determination of the trade surplus in certain sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products for a list of trade-agreement partner countries. The notice states that a country's trade surplus in these goods relates to the quantity of such goods for which the United States grants preferential tariff treatment under the relevant free trade agreements.

Who's affected: The notice names sugar and syrup goods and sugar-containing products. It names Chile, Morocco, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, and Panama, and cites the Chile FTA, Morocco FTA, CAFTA-DR, and the Peru, Colombia, and Panama TPAs. Specific HTSUS codes and surplus quantities are not restated here.

What to review:
- Review whether your imported sugar, syrup, or sugar-containing products fall within the product categories referenced in the notice.
- Confirm with your broker whether the origin country and applicable FTA/TPA may affect preferential treatment for your goods.
- Check the full Federal Register notice and HTSUS provisions for the specific surplus quantities and covered tariff lines.
- Confirm effective dates and any quantity limits before relying on preferential tariff treatment.

This is general information, not legal advice and not a compliance determination — confirm specifics with a licensed customs broker or trade counsel.