“So far 39 containers laden with goods worth around Rs 60 million have been exported to China from Nepal,” he said, adding, “Everyday, 14 containers are coming to Nepal from China, that too has been closed from today.”
Earlier, China had closed the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point for a long time, throwing local traders out of jobs. The border point, which was closed following the Covid-19 pandemic, was opened on December 28, but there is no significant progress in the business. The trade between Nepal and China is yet to come on track. The 2015 devastating Gorkha earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic that spread from China three years ago have badly affected the trade between the two countries. Tatopani of Sindhupalchok and Rasuwagadhi of Rasuwa, two border points which were in operation for trade between the two countries, have not returned to normalcy. ALSO READ: Despite reopening of border, restrictions still hinder Nepal’s exports to China According to the statistics of the Customs Department, the annual foreign trade between the two countries is more than Rs 2.5 billion in the normal state. But, the two customs offices—Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi—which are connected to trade with China have been very poor in recent years. Tatopani Customs Office Chief Dayananda KC said that though Nepali consulate in Lhasa has been taking initiative to open the export, the date has not been fixed yet. At one time, 80 to 85 staffers used to be deployed to operate the Tatopani Customs Office. Now, there are only 14. China has also removed its customs office, saying that the place was unsafe for human settlement.
