Cambodian garment workers fret Trump's new tariff threat

Cambodian garment workers locomotion retired of their mill during their luncheon interruption successful Phnom Penh. Photo: TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Source: AFP

As Cambodian garment workers took breaks from toiling successful sweltering factories connected Tuesday, they feared for their jobs aft US President Donald Trump's menace to enforce a 36 percent tariff.

"I beg the US to trim the tariff for the involvement of workers successful Cambodia," 38-year-old Im Sothearin told AFP arsenic she rested from her enactment successful an underwear mill successful the superior Phnom Penh.

"If they complaint a precocious tariff, it is lone workers who are going to suffer," said the mother-of-three who earns lone $300 a month.

"Factories mightiness beryllium closed oregon workers volition person their wages lowered, oregon beryllium forced to enactment faster."

Cambodia -- a large shaper of low-cost covering for Western brands -- was among the nations hardest deed by Trump's "Liberation Day" blitz of tariff threats successful April.

The US president primitively outlined a 49-percent complaint if Cambodia failed to broker a woody with Washington. On Monday, helium lowered it to 36 percent and extended the dialog deadline to August 1.

Many garment workers fearfulness for their jobs arsenic US President Donald Trump threatens to enforce a 36-tariff connected Cambodia. Photo: TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Source: AFP

While the levy is little than the archetypal eye-watering figure, it has done small to allay anxieties.

"If the tariff is that high, companies won't person money to pay," 28-year-old large idiosyncratic Sreymom, who goes by lone 1 name, told AFP arsenic she bought effect connected her luncheon break.

"I americium disquieted that we won't person jobs to do," the 11-year seasoned of the mill level said. "I privation the tariff to beryllium reduced more."

Cambodia has not yet made an authoritative remark connected Trump's caller projected rate, which was issued successful a missive among much than a twelve helium despatched to cardinal commercialized partners.

But commerce ministry spokesperson Penn Sovicheat told AFP successful April that harsh US tariffs connected his state were "not reasonable".

Cambodia -- a large shaper of covering for Western brands -- was among the nations hardest deed by Trump's tariff threats. Photo: TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Source: AFP

Cambodia said it had astir $10 cardinal successful exports to the United States past year, chiefly garment products.

The federation has been paying a 10-percent standby complaint arsenic negotiators unreserved to marque a deal.

Many factories successful Cambodia are Chinese-owned. The White House antecedently accused the kingdom of allowing Chinese goods to halt implicit connected the mode to US markets, thereby skirting steeper rates imposed connected Beijing.

Yi Mom has had a two-decade vocation successful the garment industry. But she frets it whitethorn beryllium ended if Cambodia fails to soften the stroke threatened by the United States.

"I fearfulness that the precocious tariff volition impact factories and volition effect successful less jobs for workers," said the 47-year-old.

"Then we volition person debased wages and volition not beryllium capable to enactment our families."

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Source: AFP