Myanmar’s export market is suffering due to the trade policy change in China’s Yunnan Province

Myanmar’s export market has been hurt because of the trade policy change in China’s Yunnan Province, Dr. Than Myint, Union Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, said at monthly regular meeting between Vice President of Myanmar and local business leaders held on March 15 at UMFCCI.

China, after changing its policies to track down illegal trade and corruption in the country, posed strict inspections on Myanmar’s imports which are now causing traffic jams in goods transportation which is causing fruits to spoil therefore causing financial loss to traders.

“The market was hurt by policy changes in China’s Yunnan Province since October. Traders are trying to overcome the activities. The government is also trying to help the market,” he added.

To improve the trade, the union minister acknowledged that Myanmar needs better roads for transportation, and noted that Myanmar will export one million tons of watermelon and cumber through the Muse-Yunnan trade route which  will be faster when Muse-Lashio-Mandalay railroad is finished.

The volume of border trade with China is the largest compared to the volume of Myanmar’s border trade with India, Thailand and Bangladesh. From September 2018 to January 2019, the total volume of trade between Myanmar and China reached $3.7 billion with $1.607 billion to China and $2.134 billion from China. In the six-month transitional Fiscal Year 2018, Myanmar’s foreign trade was $18 billion and $6 billion was with China.

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/myanmar-suffering-china-s-trade-policy-change )

​