The EBA

EBA status allows the world’s poorest countries to sell any goods tariff-free to EU nations, except weapons. About 48 countries are EBA beneficiaries including Myanmar, Lao PDR, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Timor-Leste. On Oct 2018, the European Union’s Trade Commissioner threatened to revoke Cambodia’s special trade access under the EBA, citing “severe restrictions when it comes to essential political rights”. Cambodia has responded by allowing individuals previously banned from politics to resume activities but EBA negotiations continue with no reported conclusion so far. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Sen has signalled that Cambodia needs to prepare for the eventual removal of EBA access, pointing towards a fast-growing economy and higher income targets that could catapult the nation out of the group of least-developed countries. CapCam