TAK, Thailand – The reopening of Myanmar’s Myawaddy border gate after a nine-month closure will boost border trade, but the recovery faces hurdles from Myanmar’s import licensing and foreign exchange rules, Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade said. The checkpoint, located at the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge opposite Mae Sot in Tak province, resumed operations on May 28, 2026, after a unilateral closure by Myanmar since August 18, 2025. Director-General Arada Fuangthong said the reopening will ease logistics and lower costs for Thai exporters of consumer goods, construction materials, and industrial products.
However, Myanmar’s import licensing system remains a key variable for the second half of 2026. The system links import approvals to export earnings and foreign exchange availability, prolonging the authorization process. Thai-Myanmar trade through Mae Sot fell in January-April 2026 due to border disruptions and import controls. While the reopening is expected to revive trade in essential supplies, the department plans to negotiate a relaxation of these restrictions at an upcoming Joint Trade Committee meeting this year. (TNA)
