The Government of India has extended the exemption of import duty on cotton till 31 December 2025.
In this regard, the Finance Ministry has issued a statement saying that import duty on cotton was exempted from 19 August to 30 September 2025. Now it has been extended till 31 December 2025.
Farmer organizations have protested and demanded the government to cancel it immediately.
The United Kisan Morcha (SKM) had issued a statement saying that due to the removal of import duty, cotton producing farmers, already facing crisis, will get trapped in further economic crisis.
According to the statement, "In the US, cotton is subsidized by about 12%, while in India it is only 2.37%. This huge disparity gives US farmers an edge over cotton producers in developing countries."
In a press conference on Thursday, AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Modi ji has removed the 11 percent duty on cotton under pressure from Trump. Now no duty will be imposed on cotton coming from America."