EU gets new letter from concerned local exporter

For the second time in less than two weeks, a local rice exporter has reached out to European Union institutions to express dissatisfaction regarding the possible imposition of tariffs on Cambodian rice.

In a letter addressed to the European Commission and the EU Embassy in Phnom Penh, Chan Sokheang, chairman and CEO of Signatures of Asia, criticised the European bloc for considering the activation of a safeguard clause that would see the imposition of tariffs on rice exports from the Kingdom as a way to protect farmers in Europe, particularly those in Spain and Italy.

“We, Signatures of Asia Co., Ltd, a rice millers and exporter from Cambodia, would like to write this official letter to express our disagreement with your intention to temporarily introduce a safeguard clause measure on Indica rice from Cambodia,” the letter said.

“As per our business model, we work directly with farmers from 11 cooperative following organic farming techniques. Our cooperation has improved the livelihoods and living standards of these farmers. We have directly impacted approximately 4,000 smallholder families in 3 Cambodia provinces: Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom and Stung Treng.”

A similar letter was sent on Nov 16 by Amru Rice, one of the Kingdom’s largest rice exporters.

Signatures of Asia’s letter – titled “Our Farmers should be fairly treated as Italian or Spain farmers for the fairer farmer and better world” – was addressed to Frederic Michiels, deputy head of unit of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, and George Edgar, the EU Ambassador to Cambodia.

The letter said activating the safeguard clause would have a serious impact on Signatures of Asia’s farmers, adding that these farmers deserved to be treated fairly.

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