Cambodia PM dismisses EU sanctions threat, says Brexit will limit impact

FILE PHOTO: Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen attends a celebrations marking the 66th anniversary of the country's independence from France, in central Phnom Penh, Cambodia, November 9, 2019. REUTERS/Samrang Pring

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday dismissed a threat from the European Union (EU) to halt special trade privileges with the Southeast Asian country over human rights, saying Britain's exit from the bloc will ease the pain of sanctions.

The EU has threaten to suspend the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme with Cambodia after a European Commission report found that Hun Sen's government has cracked down on the opposition, civil society groups and the media.