Kathmandu, May 4:

After two weeks of closure, trading through Tatopani customs point has resumed today following government officials and traders having reached an agreement to simplify the import documentation procedure.

A meeting between senior customs officials and representatives of Nepal Trans Himalayan Broader Trade Association (NTHBTA) held today at the department of customs (DoC) agreed on simplifying the import documentation, ensuring resumption of export-import between Nepal and China through Tibet Autonomous Region.

“We have agreed on three major points,” said Durga Bahadur Shrestha, president of NTHBTA, who led traders in the meeting. Bal Govinda Bista, director general at DoC led the government side in the meeting.

According to today’s agreement, the government has agreed to allow import of one container (truck) of goods through a single letter of credit (LC). An arrangement has also been made to for weight adjustment, allowing the use of second container, if the load exceeds in the first container. However, importers have to inform the customs office in advance and the consignment should be brought together.

“This will allow importers to share loads in the second container,” said Shrestha.

Importers have to furnish details including the weight, number of items, cartons and other necessary import documents along with the LC at the customs office in advance. The customs office will scan goods and documents before releasing the containers.

The government introduced a new provision of one container-one LC from April 14, stating that it will help to control irregularities and tax evasion at the customs points. However, traders protested the provision and halted trading activities for the last two weeks.

More than 60 containers enter Nepal everyday via Tatopani customs point, a major land trading point with its northern neighbour, China.