KATHMANDU: China has temporarily closed the Tatopani border point, one of Nepal’s key trade routes with China.
The Chinese side informed the Tatopani Customs Office that the border has been closed until further notice. However, the crossing will remain open for tourists.
According to Deependra Prakash Giri, chief customs officer at Tatopani Customs, China has not given a reason for the closure. Chinese authorities have instead asked Nepal to use the Korala border point for trade.
“Imports through Tatopani have already been disrupted since Shrawan due to landslides. The Chinese side has now informed us that the border has been temporarily closed until further notice,” Giri told MeroAuto.
The Kodari Highway has been affected by landslides at several locations. This has prevented regular movement of cargo through Tatopani since the beginning of the monsoon.
The latest decision has added further uncertainty over when the border will fully reopen.
The closure is also affecting customs revenue. Tatopani Customs had set a revenue target of around Rs 2 billion for Shrawan. However, it collected only around Rs 90 million during the month.
The development comes after the Rasuwagadhi border was severely damaged by floods on August 26. The flood destroyed the customs infrastructure, roads and bridges along the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung trade route.
With both Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani out of operation, Korala in Mustang has become the main road route for trade between Nepal and China.
The government has already allowed goods originally planned for Rasuwagadhi and other border points to be cleared through Korala. The Department of Customs has also established a help desk at the Mustang Customs Office to facilitate the process.
Cargo movement through Korala has increased rapidly. MeroAuto recently reported that 66 cargo containers had been recorded heading towards Korala by Sunday evening.
The increase has also put pressure on Mustang Customs. The office currently has 12 employees against a sanctioned strength of 18.
Korala is, however, a more difficult route for traders. The distance and terrain make transportation more expensive and time-consuming compared to Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi.
The border has previously been used to import EVs and other goods from China. Around 3,000 EVs were imported through Korala in the previous fiscal year, according to Mustang Customs.
Nepali officials believe the poor road conditions and landslides on the Nepal side may also have affected operations on the Chinese side.
Chinese customs personnel working close to the border have reportedly been moved further up to Khasa. Nepali officials believe the move could be linked to road repair and other administrative work in the area.
