Buddharaj Basnet, president of the Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that around 600 containers are stuck in market areas including Nyalam and Khasa due to delays in customs clearance.
Hundreds of containers of goods destined for Nepal have been stopped in the Chinese territory due to delays in customs clearance at Nyalam customs in Tibet. About 600 containers are stuck in Nyalam, Khasa and other market areas due to delays in customs clearance, said Buddharaj Basnet, president of the Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"The problem from before Dashain-Tihar has not been resolved yet. Due to delays, containers carrying goods worth crores of rupees are stuck in China. Traders are upset, the government should take immediate action," Basnet said.
According to traders, other containers were stopped because priority was given to checking electric vehicles over fruits, clothes, and daily necessities. With the Rasuwa border crossing closed since Asad 24, all trade has been diverted to the Tatopani border crossing. However, as the Kodari road was blocked for about two months due to landslides, the goods brought for the festival were stuck there for a long time. Before Dashain, some containers had also entered Nepal through the Corolla border crossing in Mustang.
It is an international practice to give quick clearance to goods like fruits under the 'green channel' system. However, traders complain that Chinese customs officials are unnecessarily delaying and confusing even such goods. According to Rajendra Prasad Chudal, head of the Tatopani Dry Port and Customs Office, the delay is in the process on the Chinese side.
