Cambodia on June 17 banned all imports of Thai fruit and vegetables in response to Thailand's refusal to fully open all border checkpoints.

Realizing the 12th Party Central Committee's Resolution 18 on streamlining the political system’s organisational structure, the customs sector has operated a three-tier model: the Department of Customs, regional customs offices, and border checkpoints.

The Lao Government has allowed the re-opening of all local and traditional border checkpoints to facilitate trade and travelling of people in border areas after more than three years of closure to fight COVID-19.

More than 45,300 tonnes of cargo had been customs-cleared through Mong Cai International Border Gate in the northern province of Quang Ninh as of June 2 following the reopening of its two checkpoints.

The Thai government expects cross-border trade to expand by as much as 8-9 percent this year, propelled by the global economic recovery, baht weakening, and ongoing efforts by the Commerce Ministry to speed up the reopening of border checkpoints, as well as cooperation with the private sector.

The Thai Government is planning to reopen border checkpoints in the deep South by December 16 to promote tourism amid the reducing daily COVID-19 infection number.

Thailand's Ministry of Commerce said that the Southeast Asian country's cross-border trade in June increased by 41.68 percent over the same period last year, reaching a value of 146.09 billion THB (4.41 billion USD).

The Thai cabinet on March 3 approved the reopening of three border checkpoints linking Thailand and Laos, which were closed down last year to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lao Government has urged authorities and people to remain vigilant and continue to implement preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thailand's cross-border trade fell 8.5 percent year-on-year in January-July period, mostly due to the closure of border checkpoints amid COVID-19, according to the Thai Ministry of Commerce.

Vietnam and China should extend the working hours for customs clearance at border gates and restore cross-border trade at markets along the border, Le Hoang Oanh, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Asia-Africa Market Department, told an online meeting on August 13.

The border guard force has intensified monitoring of the border line over the past more than three months to stop the illegal entry into Vietnam.

Thailand will reopen checkpoints on the border with all neighboring countries to resume cross-border cargo transport and trading from July 1, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Indonesia is planning to reopen Bali to tourists while Cambodia and Thailand have moved to increase border control to prevent further COVID-19 transmission.

Myanmar has opened two new international border checkpoints with India in Tamu and Reedhorda towns to facilitate travel on both sides, according to the Myanmar News Agency.

Thailand's Vice Minister for Commerce, Dr. Sakon Varanyuwatana, has said the Thailand-Myanmar Border Economic Partnership Conference will boost border trade and relations between the two countries.