Cambodia hosts U.S. trade and investment forum to strengthen compliance and market access

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct. 3, 2025) — Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise convened a high-level forum Thursday focused on “Trade and Investment with the United States,” aimed at promoting legal compliance and expanding export opportunities to the U.S. market.

Held at the National Customs School under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, the event brought together more than 340 participants, including government officials, private sector representatives, and trade associations. The forum emphasized the importance of adhering to origin rules and preventing transshipment fraud—issues flagged by U.S. authorities as potential risks to bilateral trade.

Sun Chanthol, who also serves as First Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia and Chair of the Cambodia–U.S. Bilateral Trade Working Group, highlighted progress in customs negotiations and called for stronger cooperation between ministries and the private sector to ensure compliance with international standards.

Casey Barnett, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, presented an overview of trade statistics and investment trends, urging Cambodia to address transshipment concerns—particularly in sectors like solar panel manufacturing—to safeguard access to the U.S. market.

Finance Ministry officials announced the formation of a joint task force to coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in cases of suspected origin fraud. Customs Director-General Kun Nhim reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to transparency and enforcement, noting that the U.S. currently absorbs 40% of Cambodia’s total exports.

The forum concluded with a pledge to continue dialogue and strengthen legal frameworks to support sustainable trade and investment.

In the first eight months of 2025, Cambodia’s exports to the United States surpassed $8billion, marking a 23.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise. This solidifies the U.S. as Cambodia’s largest export market, accounting for a significant share of the Kingdom’s total outbound trade.

Total bilateral trade between the two countries reached $8.5 billion, with Cambodian exports making up the bulk. U.S. imports to Cambodia totaled $243 million, up 39.8% year-on-year, consisting mainly of automobiles, machinery, electronics, cosmetics, and household items.

Despite the growth, the U.S. imposed a 19% tariff on Cambodian goods effective August 1, 2025. Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol noted that Cambodia is actively negotiating to lower the rate, especially for products not manufactured in the U.S., such as garments and footwear. These efforts aim to preserve market access, sustain factory operations, and attract further investment.

In 2024, Cambodia–U.S. trade exceeded $10 billion, with Cambodian exports reaching $9.91 billion, up 11.4% from 2023