India takes on US, EU on cotton at WTO

India has backed calls for a balanced outcome on cotton at the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying issues such as local support, market access and development assistance need to be addressed together.

- Dhirendra Kumar

India's total cotton output in the 2024-25 season stood at 29.4 million bales (170 kg each).

(BLOOMBERG)

India reiterated it already offers duty-free access for cotton from least-developed countries. In contrast, major players including the US and the EU said a decision on cotton should be part of a broader pact on farm reform and not a separate one.

These positions were discussed during the 24th Dedicated Discussion on Cotton under the WTO Committee on Agriculture, held in November 2025 and formally reported by the WTO Secretariat on 21 January, as members intensified consultations ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MCI4) scheduled for later this year in Cameroon.