China indefinitely closes Tatopani checkpoint on Nepal border — Kathmandu Post
China has indefinitely closed the Tatopani border checkpoint on its border with Nepal since August 29, citing the risk of landslides on the Nepalese side. At the same time, trade through the Rasuwagadhi checkpoint has come to a complete halt following the destructive floods of the Bhotekoshi River last month. As The Kathmandu Post reports, the restrictions are complicating the supply of goods from China ahead of Nepalese festivals Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.
Delays and higher transportation costs
The Korala checkpoint in Upper Mustang, which remains an available route for imports, does not have sufficient resources for the seasonal load. Due to poor road conditions, delivering goods from the border to their destinations takes longer and costs more.
Traders who have already lost cargo due to the floods are facing additional transportation costs and supply delays. This is also affecting retail prices for consumers. The publication notes that during the holiday period, some unscrupulous sellers may artificially raise prices.
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Negotiations on restoring the route
In its editorial, The Kathmandu Post calls on Nepalese authorities to continue negotiations with Beijing on restoring Tatopani's operations and to pay attention to the Arniko Highway, which connects the checkpoint with Kathmandu. According to traders and customs officials, the road is currently suitable for cargo traffic despite minor landslides.
Nepal has also asked China for assistance in rebuilding the 16-kilometer Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road damaged by flooding. In the previous fiscal year, Nepal imported goods worth 425.24 billion rupees from China, while imports worth 47.48 billion rupees passed through Tatopani.
After the 2015 earthquakes, Tatopani was closed for nearly four years, and the checkpoint's operations were also suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The publication emphasizes the need to develop reliable, disaster-resilient trade routes in the Himalayan direction that can operate throughout the year.
