The US agricultural trade group Cotton Council International has pushed for the removal of the 11% import duty on shorter staple cotton, defined as less than 32 mm. The import duty became effective in 2021. India imports a large amount of its cotton from the United States. CCI, a nonprofit organization devoted to agricultural trade, ships American cotton fiber and manufactured commodities to more than 50 countries.
“One of the challenges we face is the approximately 11% import duty on cotton imports from the United States,” stated Marc A. Lewkowitz, President and CEO of Supima.
To fully utilize the brand, textile mills, producers, and retailers who use Supima cotton in their products can apply to Supima for a licence. CCI, Supima, and other attendees will convene on Wednesday, June 19, to discuss common concerns and devise a plan of action for working with Indian textile manufacturers.
The government removed the 10% import duty on Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton, which has a staple length longer than 32 mm; the 11% duty on imported cotton with a staple length shorter than 32 mm is still in effect.
