India and China have resumed border trade through the Nathula Pass in Sikkim, marking another step towards economic exchanges between the two countries. The historic trading corridor had remained shut for six years following the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening was marked by a ceremonial meeting at the Nathula border gate, where officials from India and China exchanged trade passes, traditional silk khadas, and commemorative mementoes.
Sikkim Commerce and Industries Minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia said the restoration of border trade was the result of sustained efforts by the Sikkim government in coordination with the central government. He added that the revival of the Nathula trade route, along with the reopening of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through Sikkim, reflects improving engagement between India and China and is expected to generate fresh momentum for the state’s tourism and border economy.
However, traders have demanded more items to be included in the trade list, citing that the existing list of tradable commodities is outdated. At present, every registered trader is allowed to conduct business worth only ₹2 lakh (around US$2,300) per day, a limit traders say no longer reflects present-day market realities. The State Government has already urged the Government of India to modernise the border trade framework by expanding the list of tradable commodities and increasing the daily trade limit.
Veteran trader Anil Kumar Gupta, who has been trading through Nathula since 2006, said many traders suffered severe financial losses when the border was abruptly closed during the pandemic. He argued that products such as yak tails, sheep skin, goat skin, and raw silk have become commercially obsolete. Gupta demanded that products such as Indian blankets, sugar, and other manufactured goods should be included to make border trade commercially viable.
Another trader, Tenzing Gyurmee, described the reopening as a
