EU Revoked EBA Treatment For Kampuchea

The Kampuchea Garment Manufacturers Association (GMAC) appealed to the EU to carefully assess whether the abolition of preferential trade treatment in Kampuchea EBA is conducive to promoting the development of democracy and human rights in Kampuchea. The GMAC statement noted that Kampuchea is now proud to be the sixth largest supplier of garments in the EU, after China, Turkey, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

The preferential treatment provided by EBA does alleviate the poverty of the people of Kampuchea. If the European Union suspends the provision of EBA to Kampuchea, it will increase the tariff of the garment industry to 12% and raise the tariff of footwear products to 8-17%.

The competitiveness of these industries will be undue threats, the reputation of the industry will be damaged, and the development of Kampuchea will also be affected.

The statement pointed out that all efforts to build responsible apparel supply chain will be damaged, which will be a great setback for workers, especially in rural areas.

Therefore, GMAC calls for the EU executive committee, Member States and the European Parliament to seriously assess if the suspension of the provision of EBA to Kampuchea will bring Kampuchea workers, social and economic impact.

GMAC also urged the European Union to continue to cooperate with the Kampuchea authorities in finding a responsible political solution within the specified 6 month period.

In a statement, GMAC pointed out that in 2017, Kampuchea exported 5 billion euros to the EU, the largest share of clothing, footwear and travel products industry, namely 3 billion 760 million euros.

Since 2001, Kampuchea enjoys the status of EBA, so it can set up a strong and dynamic economy for EU export products by zero tariff. Now the relevant industries employ 700 thousand workers, most of them from rural areas, and 80% of them are women.

Lu Qijian, Secretary General of GMAC, said that GMAC will continue to work closely with its members to further improve industrial relations and support the registration of trade unions in every factory, which is simpler and more pparent.

Based on the industry's only performance, GMAC believes that the EU's suspension of Kampuchea's EBA is neither reasonable nor justification.

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The EU revoked the United States statement on EBA treatment in Kampuchea.

Following the announcement of the European Union's launch process in February 11, 2019 on Kampuchea's cancellation of trade concessions other than EBA, the US embassy in Kampuchea issued a statement on 12 July, calling on the Kampuchea government to withdraw all charges against political prisoners such as Kim Tak card, former Prime Minister of the former Salvation Party.

In a statement, the United States pointed out that the United States found that the EU decided to start the procedure and withdraw the EBA exemption from Kampuchea. The reason is that Kampuchea has seriously regressed its efforts in defending human rights and labor rights in the past 18 months.

The statement said that the United States and the European Union are equally concerned about the restrictions on internationally recognized freedom of speech, labor rights and the establishment of associations and organizations.

The United States calls on the Kampuchea government to "restore" the real democratic and multi-party system stipulated in the constitution of Kampuchea.

In the statement, the United States called on the Kampuchea government to withdraw all charges against other political prisoners such as the former chairman of the former save the nation, such as Kim speed card, and allow trade unions, organizations, independent media and non-governmental organizations to operate normally under unrestricted conditions.

In the statement, the United States also appealed to the leaders of the Kampuchea government to pay more attention to national tranquility in comparison with personal and political interests.