Some traders say that Chinese border points have a habit of opening and closing randomly, causing them much distress. They have called for a consistent trade and transit policy.
For the last three years, China has imposed an undeclared blockade at the transit points on the Nepal-China border citing the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused economic hardships for Nepali traders and deaths by suicide.
Sudarshan Ghimire, 42-year-old, a small business person, and owner of a clothing shop in Ranjana Complex in Kathmandu, Nepal killed himself after he couldn’t pay off the loan to the bank as goods were stranded at the Nepal-China border.
Ahead of the festive season in Nepal, businesses have been badly hit by China s arbitrary closure of borders and imposition of lockdowns in several cities following a surge in Covid-19 cases.
China for the last two years has imposed an ‘undeclared blockade’ of Nepal, allowing only a few containers to cross. Now, it has completely shut down both trading points with Nepal Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi, the two main ones at border for importing goods from China.
Initiated under the guise of preventing the spread of Covid-19, this blockade has been in place since early 2020, creating significant obstacles for Nepali traders and impacting their livelihoods.