The Cambodian garment sector is facing a double blow of the COVID-19 pandemic and the partial withdrawal of the country’s duty-free access to the European Union (EU) market, reports Cambodia Daily. The country’s apparel sales to the EU, including the UK, have plummeted by 31 per cent or $403 million in the first six months of this year compared to January-June period in 2019.

According to Patrick Lee, Legal Advisor, CENTRAL Cambodia, apparel export slump is by far the biggest drop in all goods exported by Cambodia in monetary terms. He adds it is hard to say how much of that is due to COVID and how much is due to the withdrawal of the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade benefit.