CNI News

9 October 2024

There are some discussions between businessmen and analysts regarding whether the Myanmar border trade with China could be easier than other border trades.

At present,  as the transportation still is unsafe to restart the official border trade with China, it would need some time; trade by sea must be relied upon and it would be necessary to keep a close watch on the situation, they pointed out.

If Myanmar could not trade with China, it could trade with other countries; China was mainly relying on Myanmar goods; the border trade with Myanmar was an exit for China, U Aung Pyae Sone, a businessman, told CNI News.

" Rather than putting pressure on the organizations, if an answer was found through a diplomatic negotiation, it could be an exit for Yunnan Province of China. Even though Myanmar cannot sell its goods and products to China, we can find other markets from trading by sea. Our export to China officially or unofficially is more beneficial to China's interests because Yunnan is landlocked and it is quite far from its mainland. It was importing rice, cows and so on from Myanmar. Now, the mainland is exporting goods and products coming from trading by sea to Yunnan. Yunnan is affected as well because the border trade with Myanmar isn't working." he said.

At present, Thailand is making attempts to restart the border trades with Myanmar and so is India. 

While seeing the MNDAA

There is a territorial problem in Lashio, northern Shan State; because it is located on a road where it is important militarily and economically, rival groups would not give it up, commented people.

Because the border trade is more convenient through the G to G system, although it still is unclear how China put pressure on the organizations concerned, it would be okay only if China put a great pressure on them, an economic analyst told CNI News.

" Mainly, it depends on China. The border trade can be reopened if China put a great pressure on the organizations concerned. But it's necessary to build a lot of infrastructure. Next, how will the tax be collected on the exports and imports?  How will it be divided? If the agreement to that was reached, the border trade could be restarted. The border trade with China is being conducted from Kengtung. But it's not as active as Muse." he said.

Almost all the border trades have been suspended at present due to battles, commodity price and prices of foreign currencies are going up.

If the border trades can be restarted, commodity price and prices of foreign currencies can go down. So, it was time to carry out in order to restart the border trades, suggested businessmen and economic analysts.