On Friday 5 October, the European Commission triggered a trade sanctions procedure against Cambodia due to the worsening of the rule of law.
"I have notified Cambodia today that we will launch the suspension of the Everything But Arms scheme", European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström stated from Innsbruck, where she was taking part in the informal ministerial meeting on trade (see other article). "Without clear and demonstrable improvements this will lead to suspension of trade preferences", she warned.
She added on her blog that "our EU trade policy must be led by our values. Accordingly, when we are faced with blatant disregard for those values, the EU must act."
Cambodia was warned the EU was preparing to act against the country's repeated human rights infringements. In mid September, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini had reiterated that the respect of these rights and fundamental freedoms was "essential" for keeping the EU's trade preferences (see EUROPE 12096). The fact-finding mission sent by the EU in July to assess the situation confirmed that it was alarming.
Burma. Malmström also announced that an urgent mission would be sent to Burma in the coming days, where the situation of the Rohingya minority continues to be of alarm to the international community.
Both Cambodia and Burma currently benefit from the Everything But Arms initiative, which gives the exports of less developed countries full duty-free access to the European market – except for arms and armaments. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)