KATHMANDU, Feb. 12 -- The government has tightened the noose for importing garlic from China, citing the excessive imported garlic could be smuggled to India.

The government has tightened restrictions in line with the concerns expressed by the Indian government in bilateral trade talks last month. The Indian side has been strongly opposing the growing smuggling of Chinese garlic to India.

According to an official at the Department of Customs (DoC), about 15 trucks loaded with garlic imported from China have been waiting for customs clearance at the Tatopani border point. "As the imported garlic is estimated to be sufficient to meet the current market demand, the government has tightened further import of the agro product," the source sa...