Cambodia to Lose Preferential Treatment on $1 Billion Worth of Exports to EU

Cambodia is scheduled to lose preferential tariff status on about $1 billion worth of its exports to the European Union on Aug. 12 unless vetoed by the European Parliament or an EU member state, according to a March 2 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The loss of preferential tariffs, provided to Cambodia under the EU’s Everything But Arms program, will impact about 20% of Cambodia’s “preferential tariff entitlement” under the deal, the report said. The Cambodian exports will instead be subject to the EU’s standard Most Favored Nation tariff. The move stems from EU concerns about human rights violations in Cambodia, the HKTDC said.