Surviving The Covid-19

Vietnam’s border trade with China slowly resumes, but the road to recovery is expected to be slow and painful

China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, representing 20 per cent of the country’s imports and exports by value. It imports a third of Vietnam’s agricultural production. The outbreak of Corona Virus has put a dent in Vietnam’s exports, with local forwarders warning of further trade and manufacturing disruption. Vietnam’s key border crossings with China were closed, disrupting cross-border trucking, and all passenger flights to mainland China had been suspended. However, by the month-end the Tân Thanh-Pò Chài Border Gate in the northern province of Lang Son has been reopened, allowing cross-border trade between Vietnam and China to resume. Trucks transporting goods from Vietnam’s side to China are being disinfected and made to return on the same day. For the time being, only firms that can show they have contractual duties to deliver goods to China are given permission to move across the border. About 21 trucks carrying 315 tonnes of dragon fruit passed Thanh Thuy Border Gate in northern Hà Giang Province, the first convoy permitted to cross into China since the beginning of the year.