Challenges in importing goods from China as Kerung border obstructed for five months

Kathmandu, Nov 23: Nepali entrepreneurs have encountered significant challenges since the Kerung border has been shut for the last five months. On July 8, flooding in the Lamde Khola at the Nepal-China border resulted in the destruction of the bridge over Miteri Khola in Rasuwa, leading to the prolonged closure of the Kerung border.

As a consequence of this closure, clothing and other materials intended for the festivals are currently held up at the border. Saroj Kumar Shrestha, the former president of the National Trade Association, reports that approximately 200 containers of goods meant for the festivals are trapped at the Kerung border.

“Goods imported from China in July for Dashain remain stuck at the Kerung border, creating issues due to the halt in goods movement at the border,” he stated. The Tatopani border in Sindhupalchok is presently functioning only intermittently. This border had ceased operations due to the closure of the Araniko Highway caused by heavy rains, but it has resumed normal operations following Tihar.

Former federation president Shrestha notes that some businesspeople have been compelled to import goods through the Korola border in Mustang, incurring high transportation costs due to the unreliable operation of the Tatopani border.

At the Korola border, the entry of transport vehicles carrying goods is subject to strict regulations. Businesspeople express concerns that only four to five transport vehicles receive passes daily to enter China.

Currently, the border is closed due to the onset of cold weather. Goods transported from the Korola border must be routed to Kathmandu via Mustang and Pokhara, which is a mandatory path. Businessmen indicate that the extreme cold at the Korola border necessitates keeping vehicles running, resulting in increased fuel expenses. They also express that if the Kerung border could be reopened sooner, the process of importing goods would be significantly simplified.

Kumar Karki, former president of the National Association of Entrepreneurs, has also voiced similar concerns.

Clothing, shoes, cosmetics, electronics, fruits, and vehicle parts are being imported from China to Nepal.

Rajendra Prasad Chudal, the chief customs officer of the Tatopani Customs Office, states that goods have not entered through the Tatopani checkpoint as expected.

“Even though the Kerung border transit was operational, 25 to 30 containers of goods used to enter daily through the Tatopani border. Currently, Kerung border checkpoint is closed, but instead of the number of containers entering through the Tatopani border increasing, it has decreased,” Chudal said.

During the monsoon season, floods and landslides occurred in various parts of the country, and the Araniko Highway was also blocked due to landslides. Recently, the Tatopani customs office has reported that almost 80 percent of the materials entering Nepal from China are fruits.

The chief customs officer of Tatopani, Chudal, said that discussions are ongoing with the Consulate General in China for the smooth import of goods from China.

Department of Customs Information Officer Kishor Bartula said that goods are entering Nepal from China through the Tatopani border even though the Kerung border is not operational.

“Due to the cold, goods have not been able to come through the Korola customs checkpoint, but 30 to 35 containers of goods are entering daily through the Tatopani,” he added.