The latest provision was introduced by the Department of Customs (DoC) on Thursday without holding consultations with traders and line ministries. This automatically gave discontinuity to the earlier practice of sending goods to any destination across the world irrespective of the location from where the payment was made.[break]
As the government introduced new export provision, air cargo clearance works came to a halt at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) on Thursday.
"However, on Friday the government decided to ditch the new rule and give continuity to the practice of allowing exporters to export goods to any destination in the world no matter from where the Letter of Credit was issued," Rajan Sharma, president of the Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NFFA), told Republica on Saturday.
With the rollback of plan, airlines started carrying cargos stuck at the TIA from Friday.
Nepali exporters had denounced the government´s latest policy as they said many importers ask them to make delivery in one country by issuing letters of credit in another country.
Meanwhile, Nepali freight forwarders are initiating talks with shipping companies that are denying to waive demurrage charges imposed on them for delaying delivery due to disruption of cargo clearance works at Kolkata customs.
Goods clearance was disrupted at Kolkata customs for more than two weeks after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the place arresting some of its staff.
"We can´t pay the fines for mistakes that were not committed by us. Nepali freight forwarders will individually deal with shipping firms and request them to waive detention charges on containers carrying Nepal-bound goods," said Sharma.
Nepali consulate in Kolkata is also negotiating with concerned shipping companies to exempt Nepali importers from demurrage charges.
Sharma said shipping companies are levying up to US$ 105 per container per day as demurrage charge for the delay in clearance of goods.
Shipping companies have been given 10-14 days of grace period for the shipment of goods from the destination port.
The Indian government has recently added staff at the customs to speed up container clearance works. According to Sharma, customs officials are clearing around 70 Nepal-bound containers per day since Wednesday.
Around 15 shipping companies currently bring in goods to Nepal via Kolkata.
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