India and China to Reopen Nathula Pass Trade on August 1

Gangtok: Cross-border trade at Nathula Pass starts again on August 1, 2026. This ends a six-year shutdown that crippled the local economy in East Sikkim. The historic route once served as a vital link on the ancient Silk Route and resumed formal operations in 2006 following a long closure after the 1962 India-China war. COVID-19 forced a total halt in 2020.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi finalized the reopening during the 24th round of the India-China Special Representatives' dialogue in August 2025. Both nations agreed to open three Himalayan passages: Nathula, Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh, and Lipulekh in Uttarakhand. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang previously told the State Assembly to expect a June 1 start, but officials pushed the date back to August.

Nearly 600 registered Indian traders rely on this crossing for their livelihoods. The move follows the recent restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which ended its own five-year hiatus. Officials are pushing infrastructure projects to handle the traffic. A new highway connecting Rongli and Menla is under construction to improve access. According to highly placed sources, this reopening marks a "major boost for Sikkim's border economy" after years of stagnation.