India–China Border Trade via Lipulekh Pass to
Resume in June 2026 After 7-Year Pause
The administrative green light arrived
after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a formal No Objection
Certificate (NOC).
1.
Trade to restart in June 2026
Cross-border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh
Pass will resume in June after remaining suspended for several years.
2.
Route closed since 2020
The trade route was shut during the COVID-19 pandemic and due to border
tensions between the two countries.
3.
Diplomatic approval granted
The resumption was cleared after the Ministry of External Affairs issued a
No-Objection Certificate (NOC), with approval also from the Ministry of Home
Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
4.
Decision followed high-level talks
The reopening was agreed during talks between Ajit Doval and Wang Yi in August
2025.
5.
Trade season likely June–September
As in earlier years, the trade session is expected to run from June to
September and may continue till October.
6.
Local administration preparing arrangements
Authorities in Pithoragarh have started planning transit camps, medical
facilities, communication systems, and banking arrangements for traders.
7.
Relief for local traders
The reopening will benefit traders in border areas who suffered heavy financial
losses after the trade route was closed.
8.
Strategic and economic significance
The move is seen as a positive step in improving India–China relations and
reviving traditional Himalayan border trade.
In
a significant diplomatic and economic development, the historic cross-border trade
between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand’s
Pithoragarh district is set to resume this June, marking an end to a seven-year
suspension that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The
decision follows high-level diplomatic engagement between the National Security
Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in August 2025, during which
both nations agreed to reopen key Himalayan trade routes, including Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh and Nathu
La in Sikkim.
Speaking
to TNIE, District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai confirmed
that local administrative preparations are already underway to facilitate the trade
session. which typically spans from June to September, with the potential to extend
into October."
"We
have started preparatory meetings with the stakeholders and the local community.
This is a very positive and welcoming step, as the trade is going to resume after
2019," Bhatgai told this newspaper. He added that
the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Dharchula has been designated
as the primary trade officer to oversee operations.
The
administrative green light arrived after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
issued a formal No Objection Certificate (NOC). According to Bhatgai, Foreign Secretary
Vikram Misri communicated the directive to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand
Bardhan, confirming that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry have both cleared the resumption.
State
authorities have been instructed to coordinate closely with Chinese counterparts
to ensure seamless operations. This includes the exchange of contact details between
local officials on both sides of the border to maintain communication and security
protocols.
"The
state government has been asked to direct concerned departments to ensure the smooth
resumption of trade for the 2026 session," the District Magistrate noted.
To
support the influx of traders, the local administration is currently drafting an
action plan. This encompasses the establishment of transit camps, secure communication
channels, dedicated banking services for currency exchange, and medical facilities.
The
resumption of trade is a major relief for the local business community, which has
faced severe financial strain since the route was shuttered in 2020.