India-China border trade resumes after 6 years
India and China have resumed traditional border trade through the Lipulekh and Shipki La passes after a six-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The trade operates under a barter system with strict regulations on the number of traders and the types of goods permitted.
Why it matters
The resumption of these trade routes marks a significant step in normalizing cross-border economic activity between the two nations despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
SHIMLA/PITHIRAGARH: India and China resumed traditional border trade Saturday through Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh after nearly six years, restoring two key Himalayan trade routes that had remained closed since the Covid-19 pandemic.At Lipulekh in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, the first batch of 16 traders and four support staff crossed into Tibet without goods as the two sides began restoring trade operations. Chinese authorities restricted the inaugural batch to 20 people, citing infrastructure constraints at the Taklakot trade mart and sought detailed personal information of all traders in advance. They also asked that priority be given to those who had participated in the last trading season in 2019.Accordingly, the traders' association selected traders whose goods had remained stranded at Taklakot after trade was suspended in 2020.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in