New Delhi, April 28 -- New Delhi: The government is considering a proposal to reduce or withdraw customs duty on raw cotton imports to support the local textile industry due to a surge in raw material prices amid the disruptions caused by the ongoing West Asia war.

India's textile industry mostly uses domestic cotton, but it imports long-staple variety mainly from the US, Egypt and Australia, and some from Brazil.

Addressing the media on the supply chain scenario amid the war in West Asia, Bipin Menon, trade advisor in the textiles ministry, said discussions were on with the ministry of agriculture and the department of revenue on customs duty reduction or elimination for cotton.

He said the ministry has also sought withdrawal of the 2...