EU should have a ‘sober second thought’ over EBA removal: EuroCham Cambodia

EU should have a ‘sober second thought’ over EBA removal: EuroCham Cambodia
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The European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham) has called for the European Commission (EC) deciding Cambodia’s future entitlement to import concessions under the ‘Everything But Arms (EBA)’ trade scheme to have a ‘sober second thought’.

About 90 per cent of Cambodian exports are covered by the European EBA and the US GSP import tax relief schemes
About 90 per cent of Cambodian exports are covered by the European EBA and the US GSP import tax relief schemes John Le Fevre

The call came in a media release issued today (Sep 25) which said suspending Cambodia’s access to the trade concessions ‘will be tantamount to sanctions. These will, it said, ‘jeopardise European investments, the European business community, European development initiatives, and the livelihoods of Cambodian citizens’.

The potential loss of concessions provided under the EBA scheme are part of a double whammy threatening to cause Cambodia society and exporters a lot of pain in the new year, with the US threatening to do similar under its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme.

About 90 per cent of Cambodian exports are covered by the two schemes. In 2018 about 34 per cent of Cambodia’s total exports worth about $4.2 billion went to the EU. An additional 23 per cent went to the US.

Both potential suspensions are the result of human and labour rights concerns and restrictions on freedom of expression, in particular the 2017 court-dissolution of Cambodia’s former largest opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Self-styled ‘acting president’ of the dissolved CNRP in self-imposed exile, Sam Rainsy, has constantly lobbied the EU, individual member states, and US politicians to remove the concessions in an attempt to force the Cambodian government to allow his and the CNRPs return and fresh elections.

Trade union anger at potential EBA loss

In February the Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW) said it did not support Mr Rainsy, with CUMW president Pav Sina saying workers have the right to protest against Mr Rainsy if there is a withdrawal of the preferential agreement.

CUMW president Pav Sina: workers have the right to protest against Mr Rainsy if there is a withdrawal of the preferential agreement
CUMW president Pav Sina: workers have the right to protest against Mr Rainsy if there is a withdrawal of the preferential agreement Pav sina – ប៉ាវ សុីណា Facebook

“If we look at some countries, we see that their politicians do not do that – ask the international community to put sanctions on their own countries or cut off the economic standing of their citizens”, he told The Phnom Penh Post (The Post).

Similar sentiments were expressed at the time by Fa Saly, president of the National Trade Union Coalition (NTUC), who wrote on his Facebook page that ‘if the EBA is withdrawn from the textile, garment, footwear and bag sectors, those who asked the EU to withdraw its trade preferential system will be punished immediately.

‘EBA withdrawal will not promote respect for human rights, working conditions or democracy, but will instead make Cambodians face unemployment, deteriorating human rights, and a loss of democracy because of the issue’, he wrote.

EBA loss could strip 7.5% from 2019 GDP

According to excepts of an alleged leaked report published by The Post last month, loss of the EBA could see Cambodia’s economic growth contract to 6.5 per cent in 2020, a 13.33 per cent fall on 2018’s 7.5 per cent growth. Economic growth for 2019 is already subdued over last year, forecast at 7.1 per cent.

The Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) has previously said that loss of the EBA will “result in large job losses across the garment, footwear, and travel goods labour force”.

Some 750,000 Khmer are directly employed in the textile, garment, footwear and bag sectors. Loss of EBA privileges will “result in large job losses".
Some 750,000 Khmer are directly employed in the textile, garment, footwear and bag sectors. Loss of EBA privileges will “result in large job losses”. World Bank Photo Collection/Chhor Sokunthea

Some 750,000 Khmer are directly employed in these sectors, supporting about three million family members. Loss of the tax waiver would ‘be a sad and regrettable outcome for GMAC and its workforce’, it said in a statement last month.

According to the EuroCham media release, which contained no attributable source, the chamber has grown to become ‘the most prominent and respected business association in Cambodia. A withdrawal of the EBA will irreparably undermine our efforts and those of our members.

‘The European Union will further boost its influence and its reputation in Cambodia and in the greater region of Southeast Asia with an agreement that will preserve the EBA.

‘Such an agreement must acknowledge the unique character of the political sphere in Cambodia, it must place the lives of working men and women at the forefront and it must take into account the investments of European businesses and the countless jobs that go with them’, the statement said.

Last October EuroCham called on the EC to immediately “state its objectives” following a warning on October 5 by European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmstrom, that EBA trade preferences would be withdrawn unless the Cambodian government made “clear and demonstrable improvements” to human rights and democracy.

Self-styled ‘acting president’ of the dissolved CNRP in self-imposed exile, Sam Rainsy, has said he intends to return to Cambodia on November 9
Self-styled ‘acting president’ of the dissolved CNRP in self-imposed exile, Sam Rainsy, has said he intends to return to Cambodia on November 9 Sam Rainsy Facebook page

Established in 2011, EuroCham Cambodia is the largest Western business association in the country with members drawn from more than 350 companies.

A timetable announced by the EU last year said that the EC will make its announcement on Cambodia’s continued access to the EBA in December, with the result coming into effect six months after that.

Timed as if to influence that announcement, Mr Rainsy recently announced plans to return to Cambodia on November 9.

Earlier this week a media release issued on behalf of the CNRP said it was ‘preparing a budget for the members of the military that defect from [Prime Minister] Hun Sen and turn themselves over to protecting the people on November 9’.

The Cambodian government has labelled the claims of an attempted return (Mr Rainsy is blacklisted from Cambodia and international arrest warrants have reportedly been issued to neighbouring governments and Interpol) as an attempted coup d’état. Cambodia’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) warned last week that anyone convicted of supporting such an attempt faced up to 10 years in jail.

 

Related:

  • Unions warn Rainsy of strong response if EU withdraws EBA (The Phnom Penh Post)
  • Garment Industry Owners Say Trade Status Withdrawal Would Hurt Four Million Cambodians (RFA)
  • Cambodia electricity to stay higher than neighbours as EBA jitters emerge (AEC News Today)

 

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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.

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