Amid Doklam standoff, cross-border trade to begin next week through Shipki La

SHIMLA: Amidst standoff between India and China over the Doklam plateau, annual cross-border trade through Kinnaur district’s Shipki La will start next week.

The annual trade with China was delayed this year due to border tension between the two neighbours over Doklam in mid June. The trade usually kickstarts in the last week June and continues till the end of November. “We expect that trade will resume next week,” general manager, government’s industry department, Kinnaur Sharat Chander Negi told Hindustan Times on Saturday.

Of the 86 traders who applied for the passes, 52 were given security clearance. Some of the products that Indians trade here include agricultural implements, blankets, copper products, clothes, textiles, cycles, coffee, tea, barley, rice, flour, dry fruit, dry and fresh vegetables, vegetable oil, jaggery and tobacco.

“The government has already issued passes to the local traders. They have also been demanding inclusion of more items in the trading list,” said Negi.

Traders have been repeatedly urging the Centre to create more facilities at Namgya trading point in India. “Traders have been asked to give details about the items they want the centre to include in the list,” said Negi .

The trade, usually gathers pace during mid-November every year, after Lavi fair. Traders, comprising the inhabitants of villages bordering China-controlled Tibet, stock up goods during the fair and these goods are further bartered with traders in the China-controlled Tibet.