Cambodia Joins WTO
Cambodia is the latest country to join the World Trade Organization, which is erasing quotas among its member countries on Jan. 1, 2005.
This Southeast Asian country was approved for membership last year at the WTO’s meeting in Cancun, Mexico. But a political crisis in Cambodia prevented a formal government from being formed until July, and Cambodian lawmakers did not ratify the WTO accord until last month. The impoverished country became the 148th member on Oct. 13 even though world leaders condemned the murder early this year of Cambodian apparel labor leader Chea Vichea.
Cambodia’s apparel industry accounts for four-fifths of the country’s annual official exports of $1.4 billion and employs some 250,000 workers who earn approximately $45 a month. Between January and August 2004, Cambodia produced 3.1 percent of all apparel imported into the United States. —Deborah Belgum
