Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 18 – Representative of the ASEAN-EU Business Council for Southeast Asia stated that if the EU really withdraws EBA preferences from Cambodia, the 400 businesses in Europe will consider the European Commission a “Political tool against Cambodia", speaking in a courtesy call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday in Brussels.

On behalf of the 400 companies in EU, the representative stressed that in the case that EBA withdrawals realized, it will pose negative impacts to all the businesses from EU. In such case, representatives of all the businesses from EU will meet with the European Commission to discuss the challenges.

According to ASEAN-EU Business Council, once EBA preferences were withdrawn, goods’ fees will increase by 12% which will result in great losses to many areas in Europe.

EU has assisted Cambodia on all sectors, the premier said, if EU decided to withdraw EBA, EU will abandon everything they have done for Cambodia over the past years.

Recently, the chairmen of the international chambers of commerce, including the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, the French Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFC), the German Companies Group in Cambodia (ADW), North European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (NordCham), and Italian Business Association in Cambodia addressed a special letter to Cecilia Malmstrom, European Trade Commissioner, in the protest against the withdrawal of Everything But Arms (EBA) schemes from Cambodia.

“EuroCHAM would like to take the opportunity to meet you on the occasion of the ASEM Summit in Brussels, at your convenience, in order to discuss the situation in Cambodia and the concerns of the European private sector,” according to the letter dated on 15 October 2018.
=FRESH NEWS