Indian cotton textile exporters are seeking duty-free access to the EU market under the proposed India–EU free trade agreement.
Cotton textile exporters have called for zero-duty access to the European Union under the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to be concluded later this month. Exporters believe that duty-free access would significantly improve the competitiveness of Indian cotton-based products in the EU market.
According to the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), such an agreement would help strengthen farmer-linked value chains, support MSME exporters, encourage sustainable and value-added exports, and expand India’s presence across the 27-nation European Union bloc.
The council highlighted that the cotton textile sector supports the livelihoods of lakhs of rural artisans and currently records annual exports of over USD 1.3 billion to the EU. However, existing tariff barriers continue to place Indian cotton products at a disadvantage compared to competing countries.
TEXPROCIL reiterated that it has consistently advocated zero-duty market access during the ongoing India–EU trade negotiations. As talks near their final stage, the council stressed the need for comprehensive duty-free access across all cotton textile product categories.
The European Union remains India’s largest trading partner in goods, with bilateral trade valued at approximately USD 136 billion during 2024–25, underlining the importance of a favorable trade agreement for both sides.
News Courtesy : The Economic Times