(1)
Establishment
(A)
In general
The President shall carry out an import quota program during the period beginning on May 13, 2002, through July 31, 2008, as provided in this subsection.
(B)
Program requirements
Except as provided in subparagraph (C), whenever the Secretary determines and announces that for any consecutive 4-week period, the Friday through Thursday average price quotation for the lowest-priced United States growth, as quoted for Middling (M) 13/32-inch cotton, delivered C.I.F. Northern Europe exceeds the Northern Europe price by more than 1.25 cents per pound, there shall immediately be in effect a special import quota.
(C)
Tight domestic supply
During any month for which the Secretary estimates the season-ending United States upland cotton stocks-to-use ratio, as determined under subparagraph (D), to be below 16 percent, the Secretary, in making the determination under subparagraph (B), shall not adjust the Friday through Thursday average price quotation for the lowest-priced United States growth, as quoted for Middling (M) 13/32-inch cotton, delivered C.I.F. Northern Europe.
(D)
Season-ending United States stocks-to-use ratio
For the purposes of making estimates under subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall, on a monthly basis, estimate and report the season-ending United States upland cotton stocks-to-use ratio, excluding projected raw cotton imports but including the quantity of raw cotton that has been imported into the United States during the marketing year.
(E)
Delayed application of threshold
Through July 31, 2006, the Secretary shall make the calculation under subparagraph (B) without regard to the 1.25 cent threshold provided under that subparagraph.
(4)
Overlap
A special quota period may be established that overlaps any existing quota period if required by paragraph (1), except that a special quota period may not be established under this subsection if a quota period has been established under subsection (c) of this section.
(7)
Limitation
The quantity of cotton entered into the United States during any marketing year under the special import quota established under this subsection may not exceed the equivalent of 5 week’s consumption of upland cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate of the 3 months immediately preceding the first special import quota established in any marketing year.