Cambodia's graduation from least developed country (LDC) status: preparedness and potential economic and social impacts

In May 2024, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) endorsed the recommendation for Cambodia’s LDC graduation in 2029, following a five-year preparatory period. Graduation from LDC status, however, would result in the gradual withdrawal of international support measures including preferential trade arrangements, flexible application of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Rules of Origin (RoO) and Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), among others. These changes will have implications on Cambodia’s macroeconomic and trade performance (namely, export sectors), as well as on employment and poverty, with differential gender impacts.