[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 29697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14324]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Secretary of Agriculture's Special Cotton Import Quota 
Announcement Number 23

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: A special import quota for upland cotton equal to 45,616,931 
kilograms (100,568,201 pounds) is established in accordance with 
section 136(b) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (the 1996 Act) under Presidential Proclamation 6301 of June 7, 
1991, and Presidential Proclamation 6948 of October 29, 1996. The quota 
is referenced as the Secretary of Agriculture's Special Cotton Import 
Quota Announcement Number 23, effective May 26, 1997, and is set forth 
in subheading 9903.52.23, subchapter III, chapter 99 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).

DATES: The quota is effective as of May 26, 1997, and applies to upland 
cotton purchased not later than August 23, 1997 (90 days from the date 
the quota is established), and entered into the United States not later 
than November 21, 1997 (180 days from the date the quota is 
established).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Rosera, Farm Service Agency, 
United States Department of Agriculture, Stop 0518, P.O. Box 2415, 
Washington, DC 20013-2415 or call (202) 720-3452.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1996 Act requires that a special import 
quota for upland cotton be determined and announced immediately if, for 
any consecutive 10-week period, the Friday through Thursday average 
price quotation for the lowest-priced U.S. growth, as quoted for 
Middling 1\3/32\ inch cotton, C.I.F. northern Europe (U.S. Northern 
Europe price), adjusted for the value of any cotton user marketing 
certificates issued, exceeds the Northern Europe price by more than 
1.25 cents per pound. This condition was met during the consecutive 10-
week period that ended March 20, 1997. Therefore, a quota referenced as 
the Secretary of Agriculture's Special Cotton Import Quota Announcement 
Number 23, effective May 26, 1997, is hereby established.
    Previously there were only 20 subheadings available for designating 
upland cotton special import quotas in subchapter III of chapter 99 of 
the HTS. Therefore, at most, only 20 such quotas could be in effect at 
one time and any additional quota which had been triggered could not 
become effective until the earliest of the 20 quotas ended. However, 
Presidential Proclamation 6948 dated October 29, 1996, added six new 
HTS subheadings for quotas--21 through 26. A maximum of 26 quotas may 
now be in effect at one time.
    To be effective as soon as possible, Quota 23 is established as of 
May 26, 1997, and applies to upland cotton purchased not later than 
August 23, 1997, and entered into the United States not later than 
November 21, 1997. The quota amount, 45,616,931 kilograms (100,568,201 
pounds), is equal to 1 week's consumption of upland cotton by domestic 
mills at the seasonally-adjusted average rate of the most recent 3 
months for which data are available--November 1996 through January 
1997. The special import quota identifies a quantity of imports that is 
not subject to the over-quota tariff rate of a tariff-rate quota. The 
quota is not divided by staple length or by country of origin. The 
quota does not affect existing tariff rates or phytosanitary 
regulations. The quota does not apply to Extra Long Staple cotton.

    Authority: Sec. 136, Pub. L. 104-127 and U.S. Note 6(a), 
Subchapter III, Chapter 99 of the HTS.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 27, 1997.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-14324 Filed 5-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P