Amendment to Cotton Board Rules and Regulations Regarding Import Assessment Exemptions

The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending the regulations regarding import assessment exemptions by adjusting the provisions for automatic assessment exemptions on certain imports of textile and apparel products. The purpose of this automatic exemption is to avoid multiple assessment of U.S. produced cotton that has been exported and then imported back into the U.S. in the form of textile and apparel products. Also, this final rule will lengthen the amount of time a person has to request an import reimbursement from 90 days from the date the assessment was paid to 180 days from the date the assessment was paid. This rule is consistent with the business practices of importers and would make it easier for importers to comply with the regulations.