Cambodia and EAEU Explore Free Trade Agreement to Expand Market Access

KAZAN, Russia, June 19, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are exploring the possibility of a free trade agreement as both sides seek to expand market access, strengthen cooperation and boost bilateral trade, officials said Friday.

Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet met Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, on the sidelines of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit marking 35 years of partnership. Sagintayev welcomed progress in relations over the past decade and expressed satisfaction with growing cooperation.

Samdech Thipadei said Cambodia was working to diversify its export markets and trade partnerships, describing the current environment as favorable for reviewing a future FTA. He emphasized that Cambodia offers more than access to its domestic market, serving as a gateway to regional and global markets through bilateral free trade agreements, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and ASEAN.

The prime minister noted that an FTA could provide the EAEU with wider access to Southeast Asia while creating new opportunities for trade and investment. Both sides discussed ways to increase trade volumes by identifying sectors with strong growth potential and mutual benefits.

The talks come as Cambodia’s external trade continues to expand. Customs data show exports reached USD 14 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 19% year‑on‑year, while imports rose to USD 16 billion, an 18.9% increase. Bilateral trade with Russia, a key EAEU member, totaled about USD 120 million in 2025, with early 2026 figures showing continued growth driven by Cambodian agricultural exports and Russian machinery imports.

The Cambodia–EAEU FTA could further strengthen trade relations and support long‑term growth. The EAEU is an economic union of five former Soviet states — Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia — with a single market of 183 million people and a combined GDP of US$2.4 trillion.

 EAEU were discussed opportunities to diversify and deepen dialogue on a wide range of economic issues during a Joint Working Group meeting hosted by the Commerce Ministry in February 2025.

On the sidelines, Hun Manet met Nurlan Yermekbayev, Secretary‑General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission, reaffirming Cambodia’s interest in strengthening cooperation on connectivity, energy, food security, tourism and human exchanges.