China stops Nepali handicraft items<br/>Exports halted from six days

KATHMANDU, July 6: Nepal´s handicraft exports to China through Tatopani customs have come to a standstill for six days after China restricted their entry from July 1. Traders, who learnt about the new restrictions in June, said that they were initially informed that China was restricting imports of religious handicraft items only. [break]



“However, except for one container of textile items a couple of days ago, China has not allowed entry of any handicraft items over this period. This indicates the situation is different from what we were told initially,” said Dilip Khanal, executive secretary of Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN).



While the restriction has directly gone on to affect the trade of handicraft, which is among Nepal´s favorite exports to China, traders lamented that neither the government officials nor the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu have helped them in getting exact information about the Chinese decision.



“We knocked the doors of the Ministry of Commerce and also the Chinese embassy. Unfortunately, no one is explaining us what actually is the case,” said a handicraft exporter.



Traders had first learnt about the new restrictions in June through a notice posted at Chinese customs office across the Tatopani border.



Trade officials, meanwhile, said they have not received any official notification from China.



Officials at Nepal-China Chambers of Commerce and Industry (NCCCI) too said that they have yet to receive information from the Chinese Embassy.



Unable to confirm the reports of restrictions from concerned authorities, FHAN has decided to send its own delegation to Tatopani and also to the Tibetan side of the border to assess the situation. “The team will leave by Wednesday,” said Khanal.



Traders also lambasted Nepal government officials for not keeping abreast of the situation, even as the restriction has directly threatened to increase the country´s trade deficit, which already stands at over Rs 22 billion, with China.



Government figures show that export of handicraft items to China totals Rs 10 million a year. However, traders said actual exports of religious handicraft items alone cross over Rs 50 million.



“So, the impact of the restriction is much larger than what appears on the surface,” said the trader.



Idols and figurines of gods and goddesses, prayer wheels, incense sticks, thanka paintings and other metal, silver and stone items are among the key religious handicraft items that find their ready market in China, particularly in Tibet.

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