In an effort to boost cross-border trade between China and Pakistan, an international road transport route was created between China’s inland city of Kashgar and Islamabad, with the first consignment convoy of five trucks departing from Kashgar to Islamabad in a much-anticipated inaugural ceremony.
This convoy is remarkable for being the first TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) convoy between China and Pakistan, emphasising a new means of cross-border transport for Xinjiang and potentially setting a precedent for future trade routes along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
TIR, the international customs transit system, was established in 1949 and is distinguished by streamlined, safe, and cost-effective operations.
Cargo is kept sealed during transport, eliminating potential delays at border checkpoints and lowering the possibility of cargo interference.
Furthermore, the TIR’s unified worldwide guarantee may decrease additional customs costs during cross-border shipping.
The Kashgar-Islamabad TIR route is a collaborative effort between Kashgar Customs, the Kashgar Municipal People’s Government, and CEVA Logistics, with assistance from the Shenzhen Cross-Border E-commerce Association.
Following China’s acceptance of the United Nations TIR Convention in 2016, Kashgar became the first inland Chinese city to embrace TIR inland transport services.
The TIR system is the international customs transit system with the most geographical coverage, with over 66 nations using it.
The TIR method, like other customs transit procedures, allows items to move under customs control across international boundaries without paying duties and taxes that would typically be due at importation (or exportation).
The TIR protocol requires that the transit of commodities entail road transport.
