Protesting traders stop imports through Khasa
CHAUTARA, JAN 13 -
Nepali traders have completely stopped imports of Chinese goods through Tatopani Customs since last week in protest against the sharp rise in customs clearance charges by agents in Khasa, China
Traders said that there had been a steep hike in the fees for agents without any good reason. They added that they had intensified their protest after their voices remained unheard by the authorities concerned. Tatopani lies on the northern border with China in Sindhupalchok district, 115 km from Kathmandu.
The customs office, which collects more than Rs 10 million daily in import duty and other fees from the 50-60 containers which pass through it, has worn a deserted look since Saturday. “The customs yard is empty at present. And if the situation continues, it will have an impact on revenue collection,” said Customs Officer Bishnu Shrestha.
Until December, Chinese agents were charging 600 and 900 yuan for small and large vehicles respectively. They have now jacked up the rates to 1,702 and 2,500 yuan. Khasa Customs employs agents from the private sector to clear goods imported by Nepali traders.
Meanwhile, Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, president of the Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce, said that traders had refused to clear their goods after the “unnatural hikes”. According to him, traders have not cleared the goods stored in warehouses and loaded on trucks Khasa. “The customs clearance charges have been increased more than two-fold.”
Although Nepali and Chinese traders sat down for a discussion to resolve the issue, the meeting ended inconclusively. Last Tuesday, a meeting was held between Constituent Assembly Member Mohan Bahadur Basnet and Consular Officer at the Chinese Embassy Chang Ji.
However, no progress was made on sorting out the issue. After the meeting, Chang said that the border issue would be discussed at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Nepal Trans-Himalayan Border Commerce Association and Nepal Truck and Container Entrepreneurs Association have submitted a joint memorandum to the Chinese Embassy regarding the stalemate.
(Source: The Kathmandu Post)
