Nepal, May 3 -- Customs points across Nepal have been overwhelmed with long queues of trucks carrying imported goods after traders refused to clear shipments in protest against the government's mandatory maximum retail price (MRP) rule.

The government had made it compulsory, effective April 28, 2026, for all imported finished goods to carry MRP labels before customs clearance. The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection (DoCSCP) issued a public notice on April 13, giving importers just 15 days to comply.

Dissatisfied with the rule, traders have halted the clearance of imported goods since Tuesday, when the provision came into effect. As a result, customs offices across the country-including Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Biratnag...