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Import and export across Tan Thanh Border Gate. Photo: Nguyen Thanh.

At the Tax - Customs Forum 2022 held by the Vietnam Financial Times on October 19, the Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association (VATA), Nguyen Van Quyen, mentioned difficulties in the transportation and export of goods across the border with China.

The VATA representative said that from the end of 2021 to early 2022, transporting goods exported and imported across border gates, especially with China, takes a long time and high cost.

Mr Nguyen Van Quyen said the association wishes to receive the support and coordination of Customs, Border Guard and Quarantine agencies to facilitate customs clearance and limit congestion at the border gate, especially during peak seasons, holidays and Tet.

At the conference, Deputy Director General Luu Manh Tuong spoke about the working session at Lang Son Border Gate with the participation of the 389 National Steering Committee, the Government Office and representatives of relevant agencies to remove difficulties in exporting to China.

"We focus on removing obstacles for export across border gates, especially agricultural products. Currently, the prolonged congestion of agricultural products has occurred in holidays, Lunar New Year or crop season, "said Deputy Director General Luu Manh Tuong.

The Deputy Director General said the working team survey had shown two problems.

Firstly, the congestion is due to the strict application of "Zero covid", so the export method has been changed. Previously, the vehicle carrying goods was allowed to move across the border after completing the procedures. When customs procedures are finished, the driver and the tractor-trailer must be changed to transport to China. Vietnamese drivers will drive the trailer without goods to Vietnam.

"At Tan Thanh Border Gate, about 200 vehicles are cleaned daily. However, if about 500 vehicles are cleared per day in holiday or Tet, the backlog will happen", the Deputy Director General said.

Secondly, the Chinese government implemented "Zero Covid" so that the goods must be transported to gathering places and conducted Covid-19 testing. The vehicles will wait 5-7 days, even 10 days, to implement procedures at peak time.

According to the Deputy Director General, Customs has applied the automated customs clearance system to create favorable conditions for exporters. As a result, 85-90% of export declarations in Lang Son province are classified into Green channel and cleared immediately.

In addition, many provinces and cities, including Lang Son province, have also applied digital border gates to facilitate enterprises. However, all sectors must carry out procedures on the e-digital border gate. After these procedures are completed, the goods will be exported.

The leader of Vietnam Customs said the Border Guard would arrange the order number when the goods are transported to the gathering places. However, if the number of vehicles carrying goods exceeds the capacity of the Chinese authority, the congestion will increase and prolong waiting time. In addition, after all procedures are completed, sometimes the Chines side faces difficulties cutting trailers to pick up goods.

"If enterprises do not update notification of the local government on the import and export at border gates, the congestion may occur," said the Deputy Director General.

To reduce the goods congestion, the Deputy Director General also suggested that associations grasp information and update the import and export activities at border gates to provide appropriate solutions; recommended enterprises make reasonable plans to avoid the backlog.

The Customs authority will prioritize imports and exports, especially agricultural products, and perform 24h/7 to promptly clear goods.

In addition, Lang Son province seeks solutions to improve the digital border gate process, shorten customs clearance time, arrange gathering places and classify traffic channels. The survey team also proposes removing Doc Quyt Checkpoint to reduce congestion.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs leader recommended that the VATA closely coordinate with the law enforcement authority to solve the problems comprehensively.