File Photo of China-Myanmar border trade post Lweje in 2022
Mizzima
The Myanmar junta has issued a directive to shift exports to Thai-Myanmar border trade posts after they lost control of China-Myanmar border trade post Lweje to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
The Trade Department issued a notification which allows the goods which will be exported or imported through Lweje border trade post on the China-Myanmar border to be shifted to Myanmar-Thailand border trade posts instead.
The Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce notified on 12 April that exporters and importers are allowed to be shifted to other border posts to facilitate trade amid the transport disruption at Myanmar-China Lweje trade zone after receiving export and import license for the goods before 2 April. Seaborne trade is also permitted for these goods in this notification.
The importers of vehicles, machinery and tractors are allowed to move to the Tachilek border and maritime trade channel.
For other goods, traders can bring them in and out of them through Kenglat-Wangpong, Tachilek, Kawthoung, Yangon-Kawthoung-Ranong, Ranong-Kawthoung-Yangon and Myeik border channels.
The border trade merchants said that the trading business at Lweje border trade post had been stopped since the end of March this year after the war broke out in Lweje town on the China-Myanmar border and then nearly 100 of China-bound trucks had been trapped on that passage.
KIA overran the last remaining army unit in Lweje, Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 142, and seized a lot of arms and ammunition and revenue in cash.
The Lweje town has been under complete control of KIA since 4 April and its troops are deployed at the government offices and buildings.
Meanwhile, the Asian Highway which is the main transport route for Thailand-Myanmar border trade has been almost stopped after the war broke out at the Myawaddy trade hub.
The junta is planning to shift border trade business to other border trade posts such as Tachileik and Kawthaung.
