Union leader Chea Mony sends letter on tariffs to US

A vendor sews clothes at Phnom Penh’s Russian Market. Cambodian exports incur duties averaging 16 percent upon entering the United States, the Kingdom’s biggest overseas market. (Photo by: SOVAN PHILONG)

Wednesday, 13 January 2010
By Sen David
The Phnom Penh Post

Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia head calls on Capitol Hill to back bill abolishing duty on exports

THE President of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia said Tuesday he had sent a letter to Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi through the US Embassy in Phnom Penh as part of the latest effort to push for duty-free exports for the Kingdom.

Chea Mony, who sent the letter Monday to the speaker, said it was necessary given the huge decline in Cambodian exports to the US – mostly garments – following the onset of the economic crisis.

“It is a message to show that we want to help Cambodian workers because nowadays there are so many workers that have lost their jobs,” he said, adding that although the US donates a lot to the Kingdom, excessive corruption means that much of it does not reach the people.

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