Cambodia, China Fast-Track Food Safety Protocols to Boost Agricultural Trade

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct.17, 2025) — Cambodia and China have reached a consensus to expedite the development of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) protocols and streamline procedures to allow the import of additional Cambodian agricultural products into China.

The agreement includes key commodities such as fragrant rice, pineapples, frozen durians, dried longans, bird’s nests, and various processed agricultural goods.

Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina met with Sun Meijun, Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), to discuss strengthening SPS cooperation between the two countries. The goal is to open the Chinese market to more Cambodian agricultural exports by ensuring compliance with international food safety standards.

During the second Belt and Road Initiative Food Safety Cooperation Conference held in Shanghai on Oct. 14–15, Minister Dith Tina signed a code of conduct on safe food import and export mechanisms among member countries of the Belt and Road framework. The initiative, coordinated by GACC, aims to expand access to safe agricultural products across participating nations.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture urged farmers and private sector stakeholders to continue implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in processing, packaging, storage, and transportation. These measures are essential to maintaining food quality and safety and meeting the import requirements of destination countries.

Cambodia and China have significantly deepened their agricultural trade ties in recent years. In 2025, bilateral trade between the two nations surged, with total trade volume exceeding $4 billion in the first quarter alone—a 26% increase from the same period in 2024. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of this partnership, with China emerging as a major market for Cambodian produce.

In September 2025, Cambodian and Chinese companies signed a $30 million agreement to export fruits and vegetables to China over the next two years. The deal reflects growing Chinese interest in Cambodian agricultural products and the country’s potential to become a key supplier in the region.

The SPS cooperation and Belt and Road food safety framework are expected to further boost Cambodia’s agricultural exports, enhance food safety standards, and attract more Chinese investment in the sector.