After almost 2 weeks with trade halted between Thailand and Myanmar, both countries have managed to reach an agreement and resume trade
on September 30th. Myanmar has accepted Thailand’s proposal to resume goods transportation under the condition to change drivers at the border.

Trucks and other commercial vehicles were operating again and undergoing regular customs formalities at the checkpoint at the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. Before the agreement, restrictions imposed at the onset of COVID-19 limited the number of commercial vehicles passing daily through the checkpoint to six vehicles per country.

Before COVID-19, cross-border trade value between the two countries was estimated to be around USD 10-15 million per day.

Just last week, Myanmar had also resumed cross-border trade with China after Chinese authorities lifted the shut down order on Ruili’s customs clearance office, a crucial checkpoint for goods from Myanmar. But some borders are still closed and The Global New Light of Myanmar reported that over 10,000 cattle have been stranded in Muse town awaiting to cross to China as Chinese Authorities have tighten border security amid the COVID-19 re-surge.