Indian Customs Lifts Barrier, Clears Path for Nepali Tea After Five-Day Delay

After a five-day delay, the Indian customs authorities have lifted the barrier on Nepali tea, allowing seventeen trucks loaded with tea to pass through the Kakadbhitta checkpoint on Tuesday.

Ram Prasad Regmi, Chief of the Mechi Customs Office, confirmed that all seventeen trucks transporting tea were granted clearance by the Indian customs point at Panitanki, West Bengal, on Tuesday evening. He stated, "There is no longer any obstruction for Nepali tea at the Indian customs office," indicating a resolution to the temporary impasse. Indian officials had initially halted entry citing directives from the central level but subsequently lifted the restriction.

The delay arose due to a new provision mandating quality tests, which was instituted by the Indian side. In response, Nepal expressed practical concerns regarding the feasibility of conducting quality tests for every shipment and requested adherence to previous protocols.

Subsequently, India acceded to Nepal's request, facilitating the resumption of tea trade between the two countries. Under the previous provision, a test pass report for tea quality remained valid for a duration of fifteen days.

Nepal predominantly exports CTC and orthodox tea to India, with the Indian market accounting for approximately ninety percent of total tea exports from Nepal.