Amritsar: The first batch of 16 traders from Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district returned on Monday after completing the first round of traditional barter trade with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) following the reopening of the historic Shipki La route after the Covid-19 suspension.The traders had crossed into Shipki village in TAR on Aug 1 and returned with Chinese goods exchanged for Indian products. No Chinese traders crossed into India during the first trading cycle.Officials are yet to assess the total value of the trade, though sources said each trader is estimated to have exchanged goods worth Rs 8,000-20,000. Under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) guidelines, customs-exempt border trade is permitted up to Rs 2 lakh per trader per day. Indian traders are allowed to export 36 notified items and import 20 items under the arrangement.Sources said the traders carried locally produced goods, including cereals, edible oils, biscuits and traditional carpets, and returned with products such as shoes, carpets, crockery and other household items.The traders travelled through the historic, non-motorable Shipki Pass using mules to transport their goods. They were allowed to stay in TAR for up to 72 hours, during which they exchanged goods at the Trade Mart in Shipki village. The journey began from Namgia village in Kinnaur. After crossing the international border at Shipki La, the Chinese Trade Mart is located about 2 km away, while the Indian Trade Mart is at Chhuppan in Namgia.The customs-exempt border trade route, which remained suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic, was recently reopened, reviving a centuries-old trading practice between border communities.Sources said the Kinnaur administration had issued 72-hour permits to the first group of 16 traders, and additional groups are expected to undertake the journey in the coming days.
