China's zero-Covid policy has emerged as a major obstacle to the resumption of two-way trade with Nepal.

China has kept its borders tightly sealed even as much of the world has reopened over the past year, leaving a backlog of trucks and mounds of rotting fruit stuck at some checkpoints it shares with neighbouring countries, such as Vietnam and Myanmar, reports South China Morning Post.

Incidentally, Nepal shares a 1,389km-long border with China.

“Before Covid, there were 80-90 containers coming in [to Nepal], but now in Rasuwagadhi, only three to seven come in a day and not more than 14,” Vijay Kant Karna, Nepal’s former ambassador to Denmark and executive chairman of Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF) told the newspaper.

At the Tatopani checkpoint, five to 10 containers are allowed into Nepal each day, said Karna, who visited the village two weeks ago and spoke to customs officers.

“It depends on Chinese officials,” he said.

Nepali exporters are faring even worse under the border restrictions.