Gov’t determined to resolve stuck cargo trucks at Northern border gates

The regulation is stipulated in Report 08/TB-VPCP, dated January 10 of the Office of the Government.

Short-term measures 

The Deputy Prime Minister tasked border localities, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to perform diplomatic duties with their Chinese peers to unlock border blockages and expand time of border opening.

The Ministry of Health and the General Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance are responsible for early issuing detailed instructions on COVID-19 prevention regulations and criteria in line with the Chinese side (in terms of vaccination, testing, and disinfection) at border areas, especially Lang Son, Quang Ninh, and Lao Cai provinces.

The Chairmen of the Lang Son and Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committees were urged to take a more drastic step to make early warning of congestion, and manage trucks.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) bears the responsibility to chair and work with localities, enterprises and traders to bring agricultural products back for domestic production and processing.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was tasked to work with the MARD to hold conferences among firms, commercial markets, supermarkets, and markets to consume the deteriorating fresh fruit.

Long-term plans

The MIT was tasked to work with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to review forms and policies, and closely monitor exchange activities of border residents and raise official export quota rates; and utilize other types of transport such as sea and rail routes.

The MARD is in charge of crafting regional master schemes on agro-fishery production and cultivation with full compliance of regulations on product traceability, food safety, meeting standards and regulations on goods quality; diversify export markets and transport modals in order to gradually minimize heavy reliance on the Chinese market as well as reduction of non-quota border trade.

The MIT was also assigned to work with the MARD and the MoFA to expand other Vietnamese export markets (including the EU and the U.S.).

As of January 8, there were over 3,600 trucks jammed at northern border gates, down 2,150 (in comparison with the peak time of December 25, 2021 with 5,759 vehicles). The reduction was made from conversion of domestic consumption, official quota export, and sea roads.

The suspension of goods clearance at border gates with China has become a frequent occurrence in recent years. On previous occasions this period lasted several hours, half a day or two or three days.

Another reason for the blockage is that China has tightened its COVID-19 protective measures and examines the packages more carefully.

The surge in exports volume to China, which often occurs towards the end of the year, is another reason for the blockage.

Crops recently harvested in Viet Nam’s southern provinces and rising demand in China has also resulted in vehicles, loaded with agricultural produce, coming to northern border gates in a large number./.