The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) recently wrote a letter to the United Nations, the European Union (EU), the United States and other foreign embassies urging continued economic support for the country’s garment industry and its 700,000 workers despite the deteriorating political climate amid a clampdown on civil society and media.

The letter follows five separate letters from trade unions urging foreign buyers to continue purchasing Cambodian garments, according to a newspaper report in the country.

Concerned that foreign buyers may reduce their purchases as a result of the Cambodian government’s recent actions to stifle dissent, GMAC deputy secretary general Kaing Monika urged countries not to misunderstand the situation in Cambodia.

The EU responded to the dissolution of the primary opposition party in the country by saying that Cambodia’s ‘Everything But Arms (EBA)’ trade status is dependent on respect for human rights. The United States has pulled election funding and US lawmakers have not ruled out the possibility of sanctions.

Monika believed the EU would not cancel the EBA if it ‘correctly considered’ the Cambodian government’s’ decision, but he does not think losing the EBA status would cause irreparable damage, the report added. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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