Cambodia faces hefty hike in seafood export tariffs

Cambodia’s trade in farmed aquatic species - such as shrimp, pangasius and tilapia - is under threat after the EU announced it might suspend the Southeast Asian country’s preferential trade access agreement this week.

Cambodia's aquaculture sector produces 60,000 tonnes, valued at $240 million, a year. Photo: © Sylvann Borei

Cambodia currently has preferential access to the EU market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme, which unilaterally grants duty-free and quota-free access to the EU for all products (except arms and ammunition) for the world's least developed countries. However, following concerns over the country’s human rights record, Brussels has started a process that could lead to the temporary suspension of Cambodia's participation in the scheme. 

Launching the temporary withdrawal procedure does not entail an immediate removal of tariff preferences, which would be the option of last resort. Instead, it kicks off a period of intensive monitoring and engagement.

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice President of the European Commission, 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. In February 2018, the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers made clear how seriously the EU views these developments. In recent months, the Cambodian authorities have taken a number of positive steps, including the release of political figures, civil society activists and journalists and addressing some of the restrictions on civil society and trade union activities. However, without more conclusive action from the government, the situation on the ground calls Cambodia's participation in the EBA scheme into question. 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."

EU Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, said: "It should be clear that today's move is neither a final decision nor the end of the process. But the clock is now officially ticking and we need to see real action soon. We now go into a monitoring and evaluation process in which we are ready to engage fully with the Cambodian authorities and work with them to find a way forward. When we say that the EU's trade policy is based on values, these are not just empty words. We are proud to be one of the world's most open markets for least developed countries and the evidence shows that exporting to the EU Single Market can give a huge boost to their economies. Nevertheless, in return we ask that these countries respect certain core principles. Our engagement with the situation in Cambodia has led us to conclude that there are severe deficiencies when it comes to human rights and labour rights in Cambodia that the government needs to tackle if it wants to keep its country's privileged access to our market."

Following a period of enhanced engagement, including a fact-finding mission to Cambodia in July 2018 and subsequent bilateral meetings at the highest level, the Commission has concluded that there is evidence of serious and systematic violations of core human rights and labour rights in Cambodia, in particular of the rights to political participation as well as of the freedoms of assembly, expression and association. These findings add to the longstanding EU concerns about the lack of workers' rights and disputes linked to economic land concessions in the country.

The EU’s decision kicks off a process that aims to ensure Cambodia is in line with its obligations under the core UN and ILO Conventions by instigating:

• A six-month period of intensive monitoring and engagement with the Cambodian authorities;

• Followed by another three-month period for the EU to produce a report based on the findings;

• After a total of 12 months, the Commission will conclude the procedure with a final decision on whether or not to withdraw tariff preferences; it is also at this stage that the Commission will decide the scope and duration of the withdrawal. Any withdrawal would come into effect after a further six-month period.