Cross-border trade between India and China has resumed through Shipki La (an ancient Himalayan pass on the historic Silk Route connecting India with Tibet) after a six-year suspension. On 1 August 2026, Himachal Pradesh's Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi flagged off 16 traders heading into Tibet, where they will conduct barter-based exchanges for up to 72 hours, with Indian traders permitted to bring 72 categories of goods and their Tibetan counterparts 30. The resumption, marked by the inauguration of a new trade facility in the border district of Kinnaur, is expected to boost local economies and employment in one of India's most remote frontier regions.