Stung Treng provincial governor Sor Soputra has acknowledged that Thai goods have entered Cambodia through the Laos border in recent months, but noted that the vast majority of goods crossing the border are Cambodian exports and imports from China and Laos.
He stressed that the Kingdom cannot impose a blanket ban on such imports because of its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization.
Speaking to journalists in Stung Treng on March 17, Soputra accepted that public concern about Thai products entering the country through Laos reflected strong nationalist sentiment among Cambodians amid ongoing tensions with Thailand.
“The question about Thai goods entering Cambodia through Laos is something many Cambodian citizens are asking, because everyone shares the same sense of patriotism,” he said.
However, he explained that Cambodia cannot legally block all imports from Thailand.
“We cannot completely prevent goods from flowing into Cambodia, and the government cannot issue a decision to ban all Thai goods,” he said.
“Cambodia is a member of the World Trade Organization, and we cannot reject goods from other WTO member countries,” he reiterated.
Soputra warned that violating international trade commitments could expose Cambodia to penalties.
“If we dared to take such action, we would face sanctions,” he said.
“One hand is defending the border, while the other is dealing with displaced people. Should we also invite sanctions from the WTO?” he asked.
According to the governor, goods that pass through official international checkpoints are considered legal imports and pay taxes accordingly.
He added that authorities have taken strict action against illegal smuggling. In past cases where Thai goods entered Cambodia through unofficial waterways, authorities confiscated and burned the products, while the importers faced legal penalties.
Despite Cambodia’s inability to block imports through the Laos border, Soputra said consumers still hold a powerful tool: boycotting Thai products.
“If we boycott and refuse to buy or use Thai goods, then those goods will not be imported,” he explained.
“Importers cannot afford to bring products into the country only to leave them unsold in warehouses,” he added.
He urged the public to balance patriotic sentiment with awareness of the country’s broader economic realities, warning against pushing Cambodia into a situation resembling the economic isolation experienced after the civil war.
Recent trade data suggests that public sentiment is already reshaping market demand.
According to Kun Nhem, General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) director-general, imports from Thailand fell sharply at the start of 2026 as the nationwide boycott movement gained momentum.
Thai imports totalled more than $151 million in January, a 49.3 per cent drop from the $297 million recorded during the same month in 2025.
Consumer goods were particularly affected, declining by roughly 60 per cent as Thai-branded food and beverages struggled to find buyers in Cambodian markets.
“Because the boycott movement is so strong, goods with Thai characters or Thai brands are very difficult to sell,” Nhem said, noting that some importers had been forced to return shipments or dispose of expired stock.
At the same time, he stressed that most imports from Thailand consist of capital goods such as machinery, industrial equipment and production inputs essential for factories and agriculture.
Of the $151 million in January imports, capital goods accounted for about $123 million, while consumer goods were valued at only $27 million.
“These are production inputs and equipment used by factories,” he explained.
“The public only sees the overall figures and thinks the money is spent on Thai food, but we have to consider the broader picture,” he added.
The figures highlight a structural shift in Cambodia–Thailand trade rather than a complete halt in economic ties.
Exports to Thailand also declined, reaching just over $58 million in January, down nearly 20 per cent from a year earlier. Total bilateral trade between the two countries fell 43.5 per cent to about $209 million.
