Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, China had previously suspended customs clearance of goods at its border gates to prevent spread of the disease, resulting in congestion of goods in Vietnam - China border gates. Although China then allowed clearance to resume, the congestion continued. According to Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), there were 905 freight trucks waiting for export at the border gates in Lang Son Province on March 14. Specifically, Huu Nghi Border Gate had 116 vehicles carrying agricultural products and electronic components while Tan Thanh Border Gate had 686 trucks of agricultural products and fruits still waiting for export procedures.
In order to remove difficulties for export activities, especially for agricultural products, as well as to implement effectively the Prime Minister's Directive No.11/CT-TTg (March 4, 2020) on urgent measures to remove difficulties for production, business and ensure social security in response to COVID-19, the MoIT has just issued an Directive to ask its subordinate units to urgently deploy many solutions. Accordingly, the Ministry asked the Import and Export Department and relevant agencies to coordinate frequently and effectively with the Ministry of Finance to ensure the clearance and timely removal of obstacles in export and import activities, while cooperating and supporting the border provinces.
In addition, it is crucial to devise measures to promote exports, improve the efficiency of trade promotion and diversify the import-export markets and seeking new markets as well as to proactively take advantage of free trade agreements and prepare essential conditions and actively develop plans for the export of goods to EU after the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) takes effect.
Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh also held a phone call with the Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China Lu Xinshe, asking for closer coordination between the two sides in order to completely recover economic and trade cooperation, restore supply chains and resume custom clearance to serve the demand of people and enterprises. The minister suggested Chinese relevant agencies to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products, including permitting more border gates to import fresh fruits on the land border line and railway routes, as well as putting into operation the customs clearance way on Bac Luan (Beilun) II Bridge, which runs through the Mong Cai (Quang Ninh Province) - Dongxing (China) pair of border gates. He also expressed his hope that there will be more kinds of agricultural products and fruits imported at Bang Tuong railway gate, while the General Administration of Customs of China will accelerate legal procedures to open the market for Vietnam’s goods of strength such as durian, passion fruit, avocado, pomelo, coconut, custard-apple, salanganes nest and sweet potato.
It is hoped that with to the drastic measures of the Government as well as the efforts made by the people, ministries and agencies, the difficulties in trade activities at Vietnam - China border gates in particular and exports in general will be quickly removed, helping producers, traders and businesses overcome the challenges caused by the COVID-19 epidemic.
