Nepali Importers Paying 17 times more to Import Goods from China

  4 min 15 sec to read
Nepali Importers Paying 17 times more to Import Goods from China

November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational.

After the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and border reopened, Chinese authorities have been delivering goods near the border area every day. China has been sending around five containers of goods in the border area, which lies in their territory. However, Nepali side has not been allowed to take their container across the border to that particular point.

China had closed its border points with Nepal in late January following a rise in  coronavirus cases in the country. Due to repeated requests from the Government of Nepal, China agreed to reopen the border in June/July but it limited the trade to five containers per day.

Due to pressure from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, China agreed to facilitate the flow of goods in September/October but again reimposed restrictions in October/November. Most of the northern border points of Nepal are almost closed. Nepali importers say they are hardly able to bring in five containers of goods per day.

Before January, Nepali importers used to take their own containers across the border and bring back goods. They had to pay around Rs 7 to 8 million for bringing goods in their own containers. However, China denied permission for Nepali containers to enter its territory due to coronavirus crisis.

The transportation charge skyrocketed after China decided to transport goods up to the border points. Nepali importers say they have to spend at least Rs 1.2 million to import just one container of goods.

“Chinese containers supply goods just up to the border point. Nepali containers are not allowed to enter China anymore,” informed Bachhu Poudel, chairman of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Commerce Association (NTHBCA).

“Earlier, it used to cost Rs 80,000 to transport the goods from across the border but the price has now shot up to Rs 1.2 million.

According to the association, goods stuck across the border have started entering Nepal after 11 months but more than 2200 containers are still stranded in China.

Some importers have returned the goods while others are still waiting for the consignment, informed Poudel.

“We are unaware about the condition of the goods. We don’t know whether the goods have rotten or not. On top of that, the transportation cost has increased 17 folds,” said Poudel.

Poudel said that although the government has assured to facilitate the flow of goods, there hasn’t been any progress.

Secretary of the association, Lopsang Sherpa, said that they have informed the customs office about the exorbitant price they have to pay across the border but the government is  yet to address their issue.

He said that China has reportedly decided to end the rotation of its containers after November 14 and they are currently in a “wait and watch” situation.

 

No comments yet. Be the first one to comment.