The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has called on the government to scrap the existing 11% import duty on cotton, warning that the levy is hurting domestic textile mills already struggling with high raw material costs.
CAI said removing the duty would help stabilize prices, improve competitiveness for downstream industries, and ensure adequate supplies during periods of tight domestic availability. The association added that the current duty structure risks pushing more mills into financial distress and could weaken India’s position in global textile markets.