China yet to formally notice on customs clearance suspension at the Tan Thanh border gate

On August 16, late afternoon, MoIT learned information that China had abruptly ceased all import and export activities at the Tan Thanh border gate in Lang Son (and Po Chai border gate, Guangxi, China). To verify this information, the ministry worked with the Lang Son authorities and the Vietnam Trade Office branch in Guangxi.

Up until the morning of August 17, there was no formal notice from China regarding the suspension of customs clearance at Tan Thanh - Po Chai.

However, following the detection of many Covid-19 cases involving long-distance transporters shipping export products via the Tan Thanh border gate region to China, the Guangxi border gate authorities temporarily stopped customs clearing activities. The effort sought to examine and reach an agreement with Lang Son, Vietnam, on steps to improve the process of commodities delivery and reception through the Tan Thanh area, guaranteeing the safe movement of import and export products and services between the two countries during a pandemic.

Lang Son authorities are actively exchanging information with their Chinese counterparts in Guangxi in order to quickly reach a consensus on issues based on the shared vision expressed during a virtual conference on August 2 between Minister of MoIT Nguyen Hong Dien and Secretary of the Zhuang Autonomous Region's Party Committee, Guangxi, on creating the most favorable conditions for bilateral trade in the region.

Customs clearance of official import and export products continues to be consistent at the Friendship border gate and Friendship pass.

As a result, the MoIT recommended that traders accelerate and promote the transition from unofficial to official exports in order to mitigate the risks associated with the former while also enforcing pandemic prevention and control measures for transporters and transportation involved in the circulation of export goods.