Comments are being requested by The Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service by May 11 on a proposed rule that would increase the assessments paid by importers of cotton and cotton-containing products under the Cotton Research and Promotion Order. Specifically, these assessments would be raised from $0.009874 per kilogram to $0.01088 per kilogram, an increase of $0.001006 per kilogram. This change reflects an increase in the average weighted price of upland cotton received by U.S. farmers during calendar year 2008. The proposal would also amend the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations to reflect certain modifications to the HTSUS.

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