Importer Cotton Assessment Fee to be Increased Effective December 16, 2019

October 31, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued a direct final rule, increasing the fee paid by importers of cotton and cotton-containing products under the Cotton Research and Promotion Order.  The effective date is December 16, 2019, without further action or notice, unless significant adverse comment is received by November 14, 2019.

The current assessment rate on imported cotton is $0. 011905 per kilogram. The revised assessment rate is $0.012222 per kilogram, an increase of $0.000317 per kilogram.  This reflects the increase in the average weighted price of Upland cotton received by U.S. farmers during the period January through December 2018, assuring both importers and domestic parties are assessed at the same rate.   AMS also amended the Import Assessment Table which identifies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification numbers subject to this assessment, the corresponding conversion factor and the assessment rate for that HTS.

Revenue generated by these assessments is used to finance research and promotion programs designed to increase consumer demand for upland cotton in the U.S. and international markets.

If you have any questions regarding the increase in importers cotton assessment fee, Livingston can help!  Please contact either your Livingston account manager or our regulatory affairs group at usregaffairs@livingstonintl.com