Why Cambodia?: EU’s incoherence in Trade Preferences under the EBA scheme

Industry 4.0

On February 11 2020 the EU Commission announced the very first withdrawal (partially) of an Everything but Arms (EBA) status. It affects Cambodia, due to serious and systematic violations of the human rights principles enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This can be seen as a bad start in a new decade, but what happened and what can we learn for the decade 2020-30?

The withdrawal amounts to around one-fifth or €1 billion of Cambodia's yearly exports to the EU. Unless the European Parliament and the Council object, this will take effect on 12 August 2020. Despites the rhetoric in EU’s press release, by e.g. Josep Borrell: “The European Union will not stand and watch as democracy is eroded, human rights curtailed, and free debate silenced”, the decision was moderate, as also a full withdrawal was a possible option. This gave room for further dialogue between Cambodia and the EU and to continue urgently needed talks. with each other and not about each other. A personal meeting of a Cambodian delegation with Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan is needed, to solve the problem before the ASEM Summit, which will otherwise harm the European-Cambodian relations.