New Delhi, Aug. 28 -- The United States (US) will emerge as the biggest beneficiary of the complete waiver of customs duty and Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) on the import of raw cotton, which was announced by the Centre this month according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

"Under the India-Australia ECTA, 51,000 MT of such cotton already comes duty-free, but the biggest gainer now will be the U.S., India's second-largest supplier," the GTRI said in its latest analysis note.

Cotton normally attracts 11 per cent import duty (5 per cent BCD + 5 per cent AIDC), in place since February 2021.

According to a government notification, a complete waiver of duty on the import of cotton is a short-term measu...