Cambodia announces tax cuts to counter virus and EU tariffs

Visitor numbers falling and apparel sector running out of stock

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen delivers a speech to passengers after they disembarked from the MS Westerdam cruise ship at the port of Sihanoukville on Feb. 14. His government permitted the vessel to dock there after five other nations refused to do so due to coronavirus fears. © AP

SHAUN TURTON, Contributing writer

February 25, 2020 18:11 JST

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has unveiled a suite of measures, including tax cuts, aimed at mitigating the double economic blow of the new coronavirus and looming new European Union tariffs.

In a speech on Monday, the longtime leader said Covid-19 had dealt a blow to the country's tourism and apparel sectors. Cambodia is set for a 60% drop in visitors in February, with Chinese visitors down 90%, he said.