Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth announced that the Ad Hoc Cambodia-U.S. Bilateral Relations Coordination Working Group will travel to the U.S. next week to continue negotiations with U.S. trade officials, aimed at maintaining and strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations.
The statement was made during a working meeting on May 27 in Phnom Penh with Ms. Bridgette L. Walker, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia.
H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth emphasised Cambodia’s commitment to addressing challenges affecting bilateral trade with the U.S., including the establishment of a dedicated working group to coordinate efforts on trade and investment issues.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia is firmly committed to strengthening mechanisms to prevent and combat criminal activities, suppress counterfeit goods, and promote transparent enforcement of the law on rules of origin for exports to the U.S. market,” he said.
Ms. Walker praised Cambodia’s socio-economic progress and commended the government’s efforts to diversify private investment sources. She also confirmed that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has pledged technical assistance to Cambodia to support the development of public financial management, enhance efficiency and transparency, and increase the resilience of the financial sector.
The first round of reciprocal tariff talks, led by H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, took place from May 13 to 15 in Washington, D.C.
The second round of negotiations is scheduled to be held from June 4 to 6, 2025, also in Washington, D.C.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia, bilateral trade between Cambodia and the U.S. reached approximately US$10 billion in 2024, an increase of 11 percent compared to 2023. Cambodian exports to the U.S. amounted to US$9.91 billion, marking an 11.4 percent year-on-year growth.
