The government has allowed export of 8,424 tonne raw sugar to the US, under the preferential trade quota for 2017-18 (Oct-Sep). The US allows a fixed quantum of duty-free raw sugar import from India every year, under the preferential tariff rate quota. Sugar imports into the US outside the quota attract high import levies. Exports of sugar subject to 20% export duty. The government had allowed export of raw sugar to the US under the tariff rate quota this year as well but there have been no exports so far under the mechanism as shipments are unviable after the 20% export duty.