The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), in the implementation of its "first-come, first-served" policy of allocating the regular U.S. Quota for Quota Year 1997-1998 among sugar traders/exporters, sees to it that said policy shall also, be applied when it comes to shipping schedules of our export sugar to the U.S.

In view thereof, and inasmuch as the last or the 4th quarter of our U.S. Quota for the said Quota Year has already been completely allocated prior to the SRA announcement of accepting applications for allocations of the 52,174 MTCW as additional U.S. quota per Circular Letter No. 24, Series of 1997-1998, dated 20 February 1998, paragraphs 3 and 4 of said Circular Letter No. 24 are hereby amended to read as follows:

"However, said volume of 52,174 MTCW shall be filled up on a "first-come, first-served" basis in the following manner: i) the first 26,087 MTCW of the March additional, by exporters of the 4th Quarter and ii) the second 26,087 MTCW of the May additional, by exporters of the 4th Quarter with their remaining quarter balance of 10,390 MTCW and by exporters of the additional quota with their allocations of 15,697 MTCW, so that, the 4th Quarter shipment shall now be filled up by exporters under the Additional Quota with their remaining allocations of 36,477 MTCW.

In the event the March additional quota shall be cancelled, the exporters of the 4th quarter shall have the priority of filling up the May additional, or if both March and May additional quota of 52,174 MTCW shall be cancelled exporters with 4th quarter allocations shall have the priority over the exporters of the additional quota to f ill up the 4th quarter shipment."

This Circular Letter shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 11 March 1998

(SGD.) MICHAEL K. SUAREZ
Administrator