Sudden Blockage of Thai Fruit Imports Enforced at Trat Border by Cambodia
Title: Thai Fruit Exporters Hit Hard by Sudden Cambodia Import Ban
Informal, Straightforward Style
Forget about bananas, durians, and mangosteens - they're all off the menu in Cambodia, at least for now! That's right, without warning, our buddies over at Cambodia decided to halt all fruit imports from Thailand. This unexpected move by the Koh Kong Customs Office left local exporters in Trat Province scratching their heads and counting their losses.
At high noon on a Saturday, officials at the Khlong Yai Customs Checkpoint received a shocking notification. No more fruit or agri-products from Thailand would be welcomed, effective immediately. Trucks carrying goods, including durians, which are already on the banned list, were ordered to unload their cargo and head back across the border. It's thought the order came straight from the Cambodian government, though no explanation was given1.
A whopping 30 to 40 trucks carrying fruit (excluding durians) cross the Ban Hat Lek checkpoint into Cambodia each day, and they carry produce worth at least 15,000 to 20,000 baht apiece. So, you can imagine the blow this sudden ban has dealt to our hardworking fruit exporters!
What a mess!
Meanwhile, more than 10 fruit trucks had already crossed the Ban Hat Lek border before the news broke, and others were waiting in line to deliver produce to the Cham Yeam market. But with the abrupt halt, these trucks were forced to turn tail and head back2.
News of the ban spread fast, and internet users responded with frustration. One Facebook post from the Thai-Cambodian border checkpoint read, "Banned again! All types of fruit are now prohibited from passing through the checkpoint. No prior notice from Cambodia. Many trucks were forced to turn back." Some users saw this as a game of tit-for-tat between the countries, while others just asked, "What's the final decision?"
Sadly, this ain't the first time bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been rocky. It all started when Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen threatened to block Thai produce over border checkpoint disputes3. Seems like things are still hot and heavy between these neighboring nations.
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Tags* Cambodia* Trat* border checkpoint* fruit* Thailand
Sources:
- The sudden import ban on Thai fruits by Cambodia is cause for concern in the Thai economy, especially for businesses heavily invested in the fruit export market.
- The general news about the icy relations between Thailand and Cambodia, and the ongoing political disputes, might have unwanted implications for the health of various industries, including agriculture and trade.
