Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay wrote an official letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 May 2026, urgently requesting the complete removal of the 11% import duty on cotton to protect the state’s textile sector.
Cotton Price Surge- Cotton costs jumped 25% in two months, from ₹54,700 to ₹67,700 per candy.
Yarn Price Hike-Yarn costs simultaneously spiralled from ₹301 to ₹330 per kg.
Raw Material Deficit- Domestic production shortages and intense trading activities caused a severe market squeeze.
The Tamilnadu CM Vijay’s Objective of the appeal letter to PM Narendramodi is
1)Scrap Import Tariffs- Reduce the existing 11% import duty to 0% immediately.
2)Protect Vulnerable Jobs-Safeguard the livelihoods of lakhs of workers, primarily rural and semi-urban women, who depend heavily on this sector.
3)Global Competitiveness by Enabling Tamil Nadu—India’s largest textile and apparel exporting state—to effectively fulfill export commitments and remain competitive globally
-T.Immanuvel Dinakaran