Sun Chanthol, chairman of the Working Group on Cambodia-US Bilateral Trade and Investment Relations, expressed optimism that the tariff rate imposed by the US on Cambodian goods — effective from August 1 — will fall below the previously announced 36% threshold set by the US administration.
Speaking to reporters during a site inspection and border demarcation event for the proposed Funan Techo Canal project in Kep province on July 25, Chanthol explained that the working group has made significant efforts to ensure the Kingdom’s products remain competitive and retain strong market access in the US.
He added that the Cambodian side has formally requested that the US apply a competitive tariff rate — comparable to those offered to neighbouring and competing countries that export similar goods to the US.
Chanthol explained that all relevant documents regarding the request were submitted to the US at 11.30pm on July 16. The US has since held internal discussions and submitted a report to President Donald Trump.
Cambodia is hopeful for a better outcome compared to the previous round of negotiations, where the US government reduced tariffs on Cambodian goods from an initial 49% (announced on April 2) to 36%.
“We hope that by next week, we will receive a response from the US regarding a finalised tariff rate,” he said.
According to Chanthol, the US is expected to announce the new tariff rate sometime next week (before August 1), and it is expected to be lower than 36%.
On July 7, US President Trump sent a letter to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, confirming a tariff reduction from 49% to 36% on Cambodian imports, effective August 1. This followed several virtual and two in-person rounds of negotiations between Cambodian and US trade officials.
On April 2, the US government announced sweeping import tariff increases on nearly all countries worldwide, effective from April 9. However, Trump granted a 90-day delay to allow for bilateral negotiations.
Data from Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) shows that in the first half of 2025, trade between Cambodia and the US totalled $5.69 billion, a 25.7% increase over the same period in 2024. Cambodia exported $5.56 billion worth of goods to the U.S. (up 25.6%), while imports totalled $164.9 million (up 29%).
The US remains Cambodia’s largest export market, accounting for 38.7% of the country’s total export value in the first half of 2025, which amounted to $14.29 billion.
In 2024, Cambodia-US bilateral trade reached over $10 billion, up 11% from 2023. Exports to the US totalled $9.91 billion (up 11.4%), while imports exceeded $264 million (up 2%).
