The “Forum on Investment and Trade with the United States” took place this morning, October 2. The event saw a diverse group of policymakers, policy practitioners and private sector representatives participate in discussions about strengthening and expanding Cambodia–U.S. trade and investment relations.
Staged at the National Customs School of the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), the event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), along with senior officials from various government institutions, representatives from the private sector and other stakeholders.
The forum covered several key topics, each focused on maintaining, strengthening and expanding trade and investment ties between Cambodia and the US, as well as addressing challenges in the context of the ever-changing global trade environment.
In his keynote address, Chanthol discussed the trajectory of Cambodian exports to US markets, the volume of trade between the two countries and the status of bilateral coordination on trade and investment, all of which he noted, continue to show positive trends.
He highlighted how the Cambodian government has made numerous efforts to further enhance cooperation with both the US government and the US private sector.
“As a result, the US administration has maintained Cambodia’s reciprocal tariff rate at 19%, which allows Cambodia to remain competitive in attracting investment and exporting to the US,” he said.
Chanthol emphasised the importance of the forum, noting that it provided an opportunity for stakeholders to raise issues and discuss solutions that can help Cambodia maintain compliance, competitiveness and investment appeal.
He encouraged active participation and open dialogue, expressing strong optimism that the forum would lead to constructive ideas to maintain market access, attract more investment and advance Cambodia’s economic diversification to the next level.
According to the GDCE, during the first eight months of 2025, total bilateral trade between Cambodia and the United States reached $8.55 billion, a 23.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Of that, exports equalled $8.31 billion, up 23.2%, while imports were $243.02 million, up 39.8%.
