India-China Border Trade via Lipulekh Pass to Resume After Six-Year Hiatus

Trade between India and China via the Lipulekh Pass in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India, is set to resume after a six-year suspension. Preparations are underway to open this trade route, which has been closed since 2019, for the 2026 trading season.

Pithoragarh District Magistrate Ashish Bhattgai informed that preparations for the trading season, which runs from June to September, have begun following directives from the central government. India's Ministry of External Affairs has already issued the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) for this purpose.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has written to Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, requesting the resumption of trade through the Himalayan pass. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry have also given their approval.

The District Administration has been instructed to coordinate with the concerned departments and be fully prepared for the 2026 trading season. It was stated that contact details of local officials will be shared with the Chinese side to enhance coordination between both parties.

To facilitate trade activities, detailed action plans have been directed to be prepared by the body issuing trade passes, currency exchange banks, the customs department, and the Dharchula administration. This includes arrangements for transit camps, communication facilities, banking services, security deployment, and medical assistance for the traders. The Lipulekh route, which opened in 1992 after a long interruption, had been closed again since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local traders in Pithoragarh have welcomed this decision. Jeevan Singh Ronkali, President of the Border Trade Organization, stated that the opening of the pass will make it easier to retrieve goods that have been stored in warehouses in Taklakot, Tibet, since 2019.

Speaking to ANI, Bhattgai mentioned that officials have been directed regarding the trade preparations. He also discussed the enthusiasm seen among traders for this resumption. 'I called a meeting related to the trade via Lipulekh Pass. Trade is resuming through this route after 2019. Therefore, discussions were held regarding this. All officials have been directed to prepare for this in time. There is excitement as this is resuming after 6 years. Traders are also enthusiastic and are preparing for it,' he said.

Highlighting the statistics from the last trading session before 2019, the DM expressed expectations that the same number of trade passes would be issued as before. 'We expect the same number of trade passes to be issued as before, and traders are also preparing. In the last trading session of 2019, imports worth approximately INR 1.9 crore and exports worth approximately INR 1.3 crore were recorded. Another meeting will soon be held with local traders involved in this trade,' he stated.

In August 2025, India and China agreed to resume border trade via Lipulekh Pass, which is located 56 kilometers inside Nepal's western border from Limpiyadhura. This agreement was reached during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India.

Both countries agreed on this during the meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The resumption of border trade is mentioned in point number 9 of the joint statement. It states, 'Both sides agreed to resume border trade through the three designated border points, namely Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass, and Nathu La Pass.'