Kinnaur villagers seek resumption of trade with China through Shipki La

The hopes of border trade between India and China through Shipki La in Kinnaur have revived. The Kinnaur district administration has urged the Industries Department to talk to the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for the resumption of trade.

Hishey Negi, president, Kinnaur Indo-China Trade Association, has written to the Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Trade Officer, to take up the issue of the resumption of trade from this year. Every year, trade is held through Shipki La from June 1 to November 30.

There has been no trade between the two neighbouring countries since 2020, post-Covid breakout. “I have requested the Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, to take up the matter with the MEA, as the residents of villages along the China border are keen that the trade is resumed this year,” said Negi. He added that he had sought about 150 trade passes for local traders this year.

The association has urged the Trade Officer to seek necessary permissions for the resumption of trade. The traders have pointed out that many residents of Namgiya, Chuppan, Nako and Chango villages are economically dependent on the cross-border trade, which is undertaken on the barter system along Shipki La, so steps must be taken to its resumption. Moreover, some traders are awaiting the payment of their pending dues for the past five years, as the trade has not resumed after 2020.

Himachal shares a 240-km border with China, 160 km in Kinnaur and 80 km in Lahaul and Spiti. The trade between the two neighbours, after it was resumed in 1992, had gradually increased in volume from Rs 8.59 crore in 2016 to Rs 59.21 crore in 2017, barring occasional dips due to standoffs between the two nations like the Doklam clash. The last time the trade took place in 2019, the volume was Rs 3.05 crore.

The trade is held through Shipki La every year on the basis of the passes issued by the local administration.

20 items can be imported

• There has been no trade between the two neighbouring countries since 2020, post-Covid breakout
• Items like spices, carpets and tea figure on the export list while there are 20 items that can be imported
• Goods that can be traded are from time to time added to the list on the demand of the traders and locals
• The ban on livestock trade has proved to be the biggest hurdle in ensuring a quantum jump in the volume of trade
• There is a huge demand in India for the Chihu goat of Tibet