EU Issues Damning Report on Cambodia Before Looming Deadline on Trade Benefits Decision
In a scathing report, the European Union warned Cambodia that it has not taken enough steps to prevent a loss of its special trade privileges, noting particularly “further deterioration” of its human rights record since a review process was launched nine months ago.
The confidential 70-page report, which was sent to authoritarian Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government this week, arrived at an ominous conclusion after a comprehensive review of critical areas such as civil, political, labor, social and cultural rights.
Official sources who had access to the much awaited report, which was marked “sensitive,” shared it with RFA on condition of anonymity.
The report came ahead of a looming February 2020 deadline for the EU to decide whether to remove Cambodia from a scheme that gives the world’s poorest countries duty-free, quota-free access for all products except arms and ammunition.
Parameswaran Ponnudurai
