U.S. Customs and Border Protection November 3, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of State has informed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that discriminating or countervailing duties are not imposed by the government of the Cook Islands on vessels owned by citizens of the United States. Accordingly, vessels of the Cook Islands are exempt from special tonnage taxes and light money in ports of the United States. This document amends the CBP regulations by adding the Cook Islands to the list of nations whose vessels are exempt from payment of any higher tonnage duties than are applicable to vessels of the United States and from the payment of light money.