The U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) recently imposed export restrictions on Cambodia in response to alleged corruption by government and military officials, human rights abuses, and regional security concerns.
The restrictions, announced Dec. 8 in a USDOC press release, include end-use and end-user restrictions on exports and reexports to Cambodia and in-country transfers of sensitive items subject to Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
“The United States remains fully committed to Cambodia’s independence and the sovereignty of its people,” USDOC Secretary Gina Raimondo said in the release. “We urge the Cambodian government to make meaningful progress in addressing corruption and human rights abuses, and to work to reduce the influence of the PRC military in Cambodia, which threatens regional and global security.”
The U.S. Department of State also imposed an arms embargo on Cambodia which subjects the country to ‘military end-use’ and ‘military end-user’ restrictions under EAR, the release said. Together, these actions will restrict access to dual-use items.
In addition to the allegations, the U.S. is also concerned by the increasing influence of the People’s Republic of China’s military in Cambodia, the release said.
“Applications to export or reexport of items to Cambodia for both sets of end-users or end-uses (military and military-intelligence) will be reviewed under a presumption of denial,” the release said.
