Countdown begins: EU begins process to strip Cambodia of trade preferences

Countdown begins: EU begins process to strip Cambodia of trade preferences
Advertisement
Online English lessons

The European Union (EU) today (Feb 11) commenced the formal process to strip Cambodia of preferential tariff subsidies provided under the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme.

The process will see a ‘six-month period of intensive monitoring and engagement’, followed by another three-month period for the EU to produce a report based on its findings.

A final decision on whether Cambodian exporters will lose access to the EBA preferences will be handed down 12 months from the commencement date, with the decision coming into effect six months after that.

Today’s decision will be published in the EU Official Journal on February 12, with the 18-month countdown to zero tariffs on Cambodia exports to the EU on August 13, 2020 officially starting.

Option of last resort

Federica Mogherini EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and vice president of the European Commission (EC)
Federica Mogherini EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and vice president of the European Commission (EC) @FedericaMog

Emphasising that the removal of Cambodia’s EBA preferences would be the option of last resort, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and vice president of the European Commission (EC), Federica Mogherini said: “Over the last 18 months, we have seen the deterioration of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia.

“As the European Union, we are committed to a partnership with Cambodia that delivers for the Cambodian people. Our support for democracy and human rights in the country is at the heart of this partnership”, she said.

Noting that in recent months “Cambodian authorities have taken a number of positive steps, including the release of political figures, civil society activists and journalists”, Ms Mogherini said “without more conclusive action from the government, the situation on the ground calls Cambodia’s participation in the EBA scheme into question”.

EU Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström said, “the clock is now officially ticking”, adding “we need to see real action soon”.

In 2018 some $5.43 billion (€4.8 billion) worth of textiles, footwear and agricultural products, and bicycles exported by Cambodia to the EU were eligible for EBA concessions.  The footwear and garment industries are Cambodia’s largest, employing some 800,000 people and account for about 70 per cent of total exports.

Cambodia Prime Mister Hun Sen has threatened to retaliate against the opposition if the EU went ahead with its plans to withdraw the trade benefits and last month accused it of holding the country “hostage“.

 

Feature photo Samer Muscati/ Human Rights Watch

 

Related:

  • Cambodia: EU launches procedure to temporarily suspend trade preferences (European Commission)
  • EU to hit Cambodia with trade sanctions over rights abuses (OakistanTV.TV)
  • Cambodia: EU launches procedure to temporarily suspend trade preferences (Piacnte)
  • EU slaps duties on Cambodia, Myanmar rice exports (Al Jazeera)

 

 

 

 

 

The following two tabs change content below.

John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

Support independent media by sharing using these tools. Do not steal our content

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published.