EU imposes trade sanctions on Cambodia & notifies Myanmar of potential similar action

Last week (5 October), EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström announced the EU’s response to the “human rights situation in Myanmar and Cambodia”.

In respect of Cambodia, the EU has given notice that it will launch the process of withdrawing Cambodia from the Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement, which grants full tariff-free access to the European market for all exports, except arms and armaments.

In respect of Myanmar/Burma, the EU has given notice of its intention to “send an emergency, high-level EU mission to the country in the coming days to assess the situation on the ground. This high-level mission is within the framework of a potential withdrawal of Myanmar from the [EBA] arrangement. There is a clear possibility that a withdrawal could be the outcome.”

The EU has said that it will keep its channels of dialogue with both countries open, and that EU Member States will be kept informed of the next steps.