<h1>Government extends duty-free imports of raw cotton until December 31, 2025 to cut costs, boost exports and SMEs</h1> The government extended the duty-free import regime for raw cotton (HS 5201) until December 31, 2025, suspending the 5% Basic Customs Duty, the 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess and the 10% Social Welfare Surcharge on both, which previously produced an 11% effective duty. The temporary exemption, effective after an earlier August-November measure, aims to lower input costs across the textile value chain, stabilize domestic cotton supplies and prices, and bolster export competitiveness and SME resilience in response to recent US tariffs of 50% on certain Indian goods.