Timetable/Milestones

• Entered into force: January 1, 2005
• Senate vote to implement agreement (80-16) on July 15, 2004
• House Vote to implement agreement (314-109) on July 14, 2004
• Agreement signed by governments (Bush Administration): May 3, 2004
• Negotiations began: Feb 11, 2004
• Congressional notification of intent to negotiate: November 13, 2002

Austrailia Sugar Facts

• Production (Avg. 2005-2007): 5,290,000 mt
• Consumption (Avg. 2005-2007): 1,150,000 mt
• Exports: (Avg. 2005-2007): 4,211,000 mt
• Imports (Avg. 2005-2007): 9,000 mt

Australia is one of the world’s lowest-cost producers of sugar.

Eighty percent of Australia’s production is exported.

Australia is the fourth-largest world exporter–after Brazil, the EU and Thailand.

Single Desk Selling: In Queensland, which produces 95% of Australia’s sugar, all raw sugar is acquired and sold by the industry-owned body, Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL). This monopoly power enables QSL to confer some indirect price support to the industry.

The U.S. is the only preferentially-priced market for Australia’s sugar exports.

Historical Access to U.S. Market

Australia receives a minimum WTO access of 87,402 metric tons–7.82% of the access granted to 41 countries to the U.S. market.

Additional Access Granted to U.S. Market

None. Second-tier tariff remains in place (16.21 cents/lb refined, 15.36 cents/lb. raw).

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