The government today said curbs on cotton exports and the Rs 2,500 per tonne duty on the shipments of the natural fibre would go from October 1. “Cotton exports on Open General Licence (OGL) will be allowed from October 1, which means unrestricted and free exports of cotton. (Also) there will be no export tax on cotton,” Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar told reporters. Following a sharp rise in outward shipments of cotton and increase in domestic prices, the government had taken a series of policy decisions during April and May this year to curb the exports. A duty of Rs 2,500 per tonne was imposed followed by suspension of registration of new export contracts and restriction of shipments under the licence regime. The Secretary said the Textiles Commissioner office would start registering export contracts from September 1.
