SINDHUPALCHOWK, NOV 19 - Following the Nepali importers’ strike demanding concession on tariff lines, the imports of Chinese goods from southern customs point at Tatopani has come to a standstill since last ten days.
Nepali businessmen have alleged the Tatopani Customs Office (TCO) of charging unfair and different rates than that of the other customs offices. The importers have even blamed that the tariff rates charged by TCP are “high” in comparison to other customs offices.
“We cannot agree with the tariff rates set by the Tatopani customs point,” said one importer and added Birgunj customs charges 36 cent on the electronic goods while Tatopani charges 45 cent for similar items.
Over 150 containers with goods worth around Rs 150 to Rs 160 million, is stalled at the other side of the border after the importers staged the strike. The majority of the items include electronic goods, readymade garments including others.
Meanwhile, the complete halt on imports has adversely affected on the revenue collection. The collection, according to a source at TCP, has been negligible compared to around Rs 4 million on a normal day.
The importer-on-strike told The Kathmandu Post of forwarding 45-points demand to the government, including a demand to review its value-evaluation system on imports.
“We have also forwarded our demands to the Department of Customs,” said one official at the Nepal Trans-Himalayan Trade Association.
The absence of office chief at the TCO has also helped prolong the strike. After the transfer of Shiv Kumar Katuwal, the ex-chief, the TCO, yet, has no new chief.

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