WTO cotton clash: India seeks standalone deal, while US and EU push for broader reform

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

India also reiterated that it already offers duty-free access for cotton imports from least-developed countries. In contrast, major players including the United States and the European Union said any decision on cotton should be part of a broader agreement on agricultural 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 (MC14) scheduled for later this year in Cameroon. The discussions highlighted why cotton remains a sensitive issue in global trade talks, as it is a key livelihood crop supporting millions of small farmers in countries across Africa and parts of Asia.

At the same time, it remains one of the most heavily subsidised agricultural commodities, mainly by large producing nations, according to a WTO paper reviewed by Mint. As per the WTO document, India told members that cotton remains critical for livelihoods and rural development in developing and least-developed countries (LDCs), and that progress on the issue has been limited despite long-standing mandates dating back to the Bali and Nairobi ministerial decisions.