Lang Son Custom seeks solutions to increase customs clearance capacity at border gates

	Lang Son: Solutions needed to solve difficulties in import and export activities
	Lang Son Customs: accompanying businesses to surmount difficulties
	China strengthens control, backlogged goods at Lang Son Border Gate increases

The number of goods congested at Tan Thanh Border Gate increases by up to 1,000 vehicles per day. Photo: Quang Hoi

The People's Committee of Lang Son province continues to add to the list of specialised driving teams at Huu Nghi International Border Gate, Tan Thanh Border Gate and plans on classifying channel and regulating vehicles carrying import-export goods across border gates during the period of Covid-19 prevention.

The People's Committee of Lang Son province assigned the Management Board of Dong Dang Border Gate Economy Zone of Lang Son province to coordinate with relevant agencies to register additional lists of specialised driving teams at the border gates to meet the demand of import and export of goods of businesses. The board has urgently established a specialised driving team at Chi Ma Border Gate.

Particularly, the People's Committee of Lang Son province requests Management Board of Dong Dang Border Gate Economy Zone to publicly announce plans on classifying channel and regulating vehicles carrying import-export goods; coordinate in sending diplomatic notes, exchanging information and discussing with relevant agencies in Guangxi and China to request the restoration of customs clearance time to release goods congested at border gates in Lang Son province.

Lang Son Provincial People's Committee has also requested agencies and forces to facilitate taking samples and PCR tests for Covid-19 for drivers who registered to participate in the specialised driving teams, coordinate with yard operators to strengthen management for the specialized driving teams and promptly handle cases who do not comply with regulations on pandemic prevention and increase transportation costs of goods across border gates.

According to Lang Son Customs Department, by the end of April 15, border-gate customs units conducted customs clearance for 47,684 vehicles with goods volume of nearly 120,000 tonnes. However, the strict prevention of disease for Vietnamese drivers and the reduction in the customs clearance time to five hours/day and non-working on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays; stopping customs clearance at the Binh Nghi sub-border gate by the Chinese side caused the sharp decrease in the customs clearance capacity at the border gates that have been reopened.

Current volume of export goods transported to Lang Son is still huge, until the end of April 15, volume of goods at the border gates was 2,500 vehicles. There are 593 vehicles, including 540 Vietnamese goods vehicles awaiting export at Huu Nghi border gate; there are 419 vehicles carrying pepper, peanuts and frozen products of Vietnam waiting for export procedures at Chi Ma Border Gate, as well as 159 vehicles carrying mango and jackfruit at Coc Nam Border Gate. Particularly, there are nearly 900 congested vehicles and only more than 70 vehicles are permitted for export daily at Tan Thanh Border Gate. Previously, there were 300 vehicles permitted for export per day.

According to Nguyen Cong Truong, Vice Chairman of Lang Son People's Committee, with the huge number of vehicles congested at border gates, it will take about 20 days to release these goods. The backlog will increase costs, reduce the quality of goods and cause great losses for businesses and households exporting agricultural products. In addition, the large number of drivers in border gates will cause difficulties for security, order and environmental protection, as well as the prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic in Lang Son province.

To solve the backlog of goods at border gates, Lang Son Provincial People's Committee has implemented many solutions, such as requiring forces to increase working hours; set up a specialised driving team at the border gates; exchange and hold talks with the Chinese side to extend customs clearance time; recommended businesses, associations to grasp the situation and delay the transportation of goods to the border gates.

To release all backlogged goods, on April 13, the People's Committee of Lang Son province proposed the Prime Minister's guidance on temporarily stopping receiving the exported goods at Tan Thanh Border Gate within 15 days for Lang Son province to direct clearance of these goods at the border gates.