One of the SPDC's feat moves was to crack down on corruption among border officials. The council made existing trade and tax rules tougher to prevent corruption involved in the collection of import and export tariffs. They are to introduce a rule making it mandatory to make goods payments in US dollars in the near future. A private pier owner in Tak said Burmese importers, forced to shoulder the higher tariff burden, have been ordering a smaller volume of Thai goods lately. Previously, my warehouse was full of products destined for Burma but now it is depleted by half,' he said.
Traders also complain of their goods being blocked by officers at Burmese checkpoints.
Border officials are only allowing in trucks carrying necessary industrial goods such as construction materials while consumer goods are denied entry. Traders at the meeting said the opening of the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge had not encouraged more official trading between the countries but instead had promoted smuggling. The increase in illegal trading, they said, was prompted by the high entrance fees levied on,, both sides of the bridge. The unsettled dispute over Koh Chang Puek in the Moei River is another problem hampering border trade. Jewellery traders Association said a commission of representatives of the public and private sectors will meet soon with Burmese official to solve these problems.