Phnom Penh (FN), Jan. 18 - The EU has begun to impose import taxes on rice of Cambodia and Myanmar, which are exported to 28 EU Member States, for a period of three years from 18 January 2019-2021.

The tax will cost Cambodia 175 euros per ton in the first year, 150 euros the second year, and 125 euros the third year.

According to Amru Rice founder and CEO Song Saran, EU’s tariff imposition on Cambodian rice imports will affect the EU people the most, as they are the consumers.

The EU’s decision on Cambodian rice was made after complaints from Italy and Spain, saying Cambodia and Myanmar rice imported into Europe had affected their producers.

The ministry announced to protest against the decision in accordance with international legal and trade rules, according to the ministry’s press release dated Thursday.

The Ministry of Commerce said that the EU's decision on 17 January 2019 did not fully reflect international trade rules, technical standards, truth, and good relations and cooperation between Cambodia and EU.

The statement emphasized that the EU’s decision will murder Cambodian farmers and families in debt of credit institutions.

The decision to introduce EU market protections on Indica Rice originating from Cambodia will deprive Cambodian farmers' income, forcing them to commit suicide as a way to end the debt with credit institutions.

In the statement, the ministry also confirmed that it is reviewing the decision based on legal aspects and international trade rules to continue pleading with the decision that the people of Cambodia felt unjustifiable.

The Ministry of Commerce has also called on the European Commission to review its decision on the basis of international trade rules and good traditional cooperation between Cambodia and the European Union.

The European Union is an important market for Cambodian rice. In 2018, Cambodia exported nearly 300,000 tons of rice to Europe, an equivalent to 43% of the total export volume of 620,000 tons.
=FRESH NEWS