Goods congestion at border gates still a concern

Congestion gradually removed

Speaking at the meeting of the Steering Committee of tackling goods congestion at the northern border gates on January 18, Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee, Hoang Xuan Anh, said that 80 trucks loaded with exported goods, mainly wood planks, pepper, cashew and another 260 loaded with imported goods, including coke, machinery and equipment were lying idle at Ta Nung border gate in the locality.

The Chinese agencies announced on January 17 and 18 to halt import and export from Vietnam to tighten pandemic prevention and control measures. The import and export will resume from January 19, but these activities will be stopped at Ta Nung border gate until January 21.

Meanwhile, there are still a number of dragon fruit trucks at Tra Linh border gate.  The number of trucks waiting to be loaded with imported goods, mainly coke and machinery, is not significant. Those loaded with frozen fish and shrimp for exportation have returned to the domestic markets. At the Soc Giang border gate, there are only 22 cashew nut trucks left.

As for Lang Son Province, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Ho Tien Thieu, said that the total number of agricultural vehicles at the border gates of the province by 8pm on January 17 included: 673 at Huu Nghi, 373 at Tan Thanh and 77 at Chi Ma. As of January 18, Huu Nghi border gate was still clearing customs. The Chi Ma border gate stopped customs clearance three days ago when the Chinese side discovered a COVID-19 case.

On January 17, Huu Nghi border gate cleared 103 vehicles carrying exported goods and more than 300 vehicles loaded with imported goods.

To remove difficulties for goods clearance, the People's Committee of Lang Son Province has released an official document, requesting areas not to transport fresh fruits for export to the border gates to ensure clearance of all congested goods. However, cargo trucks from many localities still travel to the area. On January 17, more than 50 trucks of fruit and agricultural products traveled to Lang Son.

In Quang Ninh Province, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Tuong Van, said that the province has two official border gates, namely Mong Cai and Bac Luan 2, in addition to a 3.4km border trail mainly used for small-scale import and export. Two official border gates have witnessed no cancellation of customs clearance as the pandemic has been properly controlled while customs clearance has been stopped at the border trail twice due to detection of virus on the packaging of goods.

Since January 11, Quang Ninh's border gates have cleared 1,076 vehicles with an average of 100 vehicles per day through 2 border gates. However, there are still trucks arriving every day so there are 1,367 waiting for customs clearance.

The Chinese side has announced that they would work through the New Year to clear goods. However, the officers at the border gates must be quarantined for 7-28 days after returning to their hometown during the holiday. The speed of customs clearance therefore completely depends on the number of the officers at the border gates.

According to the report of the Department of Industry and Trade of the northern border provinces, the entire northern border line had 12 border gates and trails in operation by 8:00 a.m. on January 17. The total number of vehicles remaining in the two provinces of Lang Son and Quang Ninh was 2,643 vehicles, down more than 3,000 vehicles compared to the end of December 2021. Imported goods have also been significantly cleared, meeting the demand for supplies and raw materials for domestic production.

Clearance of agricultural products must be ensured

According to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, though the situation of cargo congestion has been basically controlled, the situation still contains many potential risks. Every day, about 300 trucks transport goods to the northern border provinces, causing great pressure for customs clearance.

“Although agricultural production areas have been constantly recommended to temporarily stop transporting goods to the border gates, the local authorities are still unaware of the exact number of trucks and amount of goods being transported from their areas as the transportation is made according to contracts between businesses and agricultural households.

Therefore, the Department of Agricultural Product Processing and Market Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Import-Export Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade must discuss the situation to have the exact numbers of trucks from each locality for easier management,” he stressed.

According to the Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, the clearance of agricultural products must be ensured by all means to obtain three goals: implementing high-level agreements between the two countries; meeting the interests of both parties; avoiding frustration among the farmers, especially when Tet (Lunar New Year) is approaching.

He emphasized that the steering committee of tackling the congestion of goods at the northern border gates should focus on six key solutions as follows:

First, persevere in dealings with China. Thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the guiding spirit of the two countries' senior leaders: Trade facilitation between the two countries in all circumstances. Continue to overcome difficulties, make efforts to clear goods through the border gate, basically ensure safety for pandemic prevention and avoid damage to the parties. In the long run, it is necessary to do business in accordance with the principles of the market economy. The common spirit is to have a clear opinion, be consistent in action, and make great efforts.

Secondly, localities with border gates need to coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to urgently set up pandemic-free zones for goods gathering, technical handling, and ensure disease safety for goods and cargo carriers. At the same time, well organize the traffic flow, avoid congestion; ensure accommodation for drivers, shippers and necessary services for temporary accommodation and storage of goods; organize forces to coordinate with Chinese counterparts and the goods owner for delivery and payment.

Third, direct functional forces (customs, border guard, police) to strengthen measures to facilitate transportation, circulation and clearance through border gates. In particular, the customs force needs to work overtime, or be reinforced to facilitate customs clearance.

Fourth, direct and recommend shippers, production and business establishments to comply with the rules and apply measures to ensure disease safety on people and means of transport, especially on product packaging; provide sufficient traceability; ensure the quality of goods as committed, comply with regulations on packaging, preservation and delivery.

Fifth, regularly maintain contact and advice with local authorities and functional agencies that have exported agricultural and aquatic products in close cooperation with the Steering Committee so that the transportation and customs clearance through border gates could be conducted conveniently. In the long term, direct production with planning and organizing production according to market signals.

Sixth, the members of the Steering Committee need to direct the functional units of their ministries, branches and localities to seriously implement the requirements and tasks and report periodically. The Ministry of Industry and Trade assigns the Import-Export Department, the Asia and Africa Market Department as the standing agency.

On January 17, the Ministry of Industry and Trade made a decision to establish a Steering Committee to deal with the issue of goods congestion at the northern border gates. Minister Nguyen Hong Dien is directly head of the Steering Committee, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh and leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are Deputy Heads of the Steering Committee. Leaders of the Ministries of Health, Finance, and Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the People's Committees of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Lao Cai are members of the Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee is responsible for directing the relevant authorities to: apply measures and solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles to solve the congestion of goods and agricultural products at northern border gates; regularly update the situation and provide information to the relevant localities on the situation of goods clearance at the northern border gates; coordinate with relevant ministries, branches and localities in regulating the transport of goods to the northern border gates.