The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Sept. 10 that Special Import Quota #21 for upland cotton will be established Sept. 17, allowing importation of 2,342,753 kilograms (10,760 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period, which up from 1,809,441 kilograms (8,311 bales) during the #19 period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Dec. 15, and entered into the U.S. by March 15, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the May through July 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Department of Agriculture is increasing the fiscal year 2020 tariff rate quota for raw cane sugar by 90,718 metric tons raw value, it said in a notice released Sept. 9. The increase brings the total FY20 TRQ, originally set at the 1,117,195 MTRV minimum mandated by the World Trade Organization and subsequently increased in April, to 1,525,428 MTRV, USDA said. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will allocate the increase among supplying countries and customs areas. Raw cane sugar under this quota must be accompanied by a certificate for quota eligibility. USDA is also extending the period for entry under the FY20 raw cane sugar TRQ by one month, until Oct. 31.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Sept. 3 that Special Import Quota #20 for upland cotton will be established Sept. 10, allowing importation of 2,342,753 kilograms (10,760 bales) of upland cotton, up from 1,809,441 kilograms (8,311 bales) during the last quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Dec. 8, and entered into the U.S. by March 8, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the May through July 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Agricultural Marketing Service will hold a referendum Oct. 12-23 on whether to keep in place a promotion order on paper and paper-based packaging, it said in a notice released Sept. 2. Under the promotion order, importers of 100,000 short tons or more of paper and paper-based packaging per year must currently pay an assessment of 35 cents per short ton (.0386 cent per kilogram), to fund research and promotion activities.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Aug. 27 that Special Import Quota #19 for upland cotton will be established Sept. 3, allowing importation of 1,809,441 kilograms (8,311 bales) of upland cotton. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Dec. 1, and entered into the U.S. by March 1, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the April through June 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Aug. 26 announced that it has reached a final decision that Romania is free of highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease. The change in disease status eliminates certain requirements for importation of carcasses, meat, parts or products of carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of poultry, game birds or other birds from Romania. It took effect Aug. 26.
The Agricultural Marketing Service will hold a referendum Sept. 21 through Oct. 9 on whether to keep in place a promotion order on mangoes, it said in a notice published Aug. 18. Under the promotion order, importers and first handlers of above 500,000 pounds of fresh mangoes per year must pay an assessment of .0075 cent per pound, and importers and first handlers of more than 200,000 pounds of frozen mangoes per year must pay an assessment of 1 cent per pound, to fund research and promotion activities. The referendum will also determine whether to continue to include frozen mangoes under the promotion order.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Aug. 20 that Special Import Quota #18 for upland cotton will be established Aug. 27, allowing importation of 1,809,441 kilograms (8,311 bales of 480-lbs) of upland cotton. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Nov. 24, and entered into the U.S. by Feb. 22, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the April through June 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Aug. 13 that Special Import Quota #17 for upland cotton will be established Aug. 20, allowing importation of 1,809,441 kilograms (8,311 bales of 480-lbs) of upland cotton. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Nov. 17, and entered into the U.S. by Feb. 15, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the April through June 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing to increase the assessment on imported and domestic softwood lumber to 41 cents per thousand board feet, it said in a notice published Aug. 13. The rate had been 35 cents since 2011 (see 11080216). Comments are due Oct. 13.