The Indian Finance Ministry has rejected the demand to remove the 10 percent import duty on cotton saying the move was aimed at benefitting domestic cotton producers, which in turn reduce import dependence. Import duty imposed on cotton that the import duty consists of 5% basic customs duty and 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and development cess on imports of raw cotton in union budget 2021-22. The sole aim was to benefit the domestic cotton farmers. The Cotton Textiles Export promotion council has appealed to the Union Textile Minister Piyush Goyal to remove the customs Duty on cotton as it is mainly the extra long staple branded cotton and contamination free cotton that are imported. The government refused to accept their demands, saying enough incentives are in place for the garments industry under various schemes.