Cambodia’s Membership in the World Trade Organization(WTO): Advantages and Disadvantages by Pich Rithi Deputy Director-General and ASEAN Senior Economic Official, Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia, First of all, I would like to thank the Forum Organizers(the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES) and the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace- CICP) for inviting me to speak at this important Public Forum on Cambodia's Membership in WTO: Advantages and Disadvantages. The timing for this Forum is very crucial because Cambodia has been preparing to join the WTO since 1995 and Cambodia could become a full member of the WTO in the near future. The understanding about the advantages and disadvantages of Cambodia's membership in the WTO is very significant for all of us, for the development of Cambodia's economy and for the well being of the Cambodia's people, including the business community. Before I inform you about the advantages and disadvantages of Cambodia's membership in the WTO, I would like first to tell you about the impact of economic and trade liberalization on the Cambodia's economy since 1985. I. Introduction As you already know, in 1979 after defeating the Pol Pot Regime, the Cambodia's administration at that time took control of a country in 18