(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that on 4 June 2025, Sun Chanthol, First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), will lead a working group to attend the second round of negotiations on tariffs between Cambodia and the United States (US), taking place in the US.

The premier spoke on Tuesday (Jun. 3) during the second day of the joint congress focused on the agricultural sector.

Samdech Thipadei noted that in recent times, Cambodia has faced new and complex challenges that must be addressed. One such challenge is the US decision to raise tariffs on imports from various countries, including Cambodia. This, he said, is a key issue the seventh-mandate government must tackle to ensure continued national development.

From 13-15 May 2025, Sun Chanthol and Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul led a Cambodian delegation to the US for the first round of negotiations on a bilateral tariff agreement between Cambodia and the US. The American delegation was led by Sarah Ellerman, the US Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The talks were held in Washington, D.C.

During the first round, both sides exchanged views openly and constructively in a spirit of mutual understanding, aiming to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations. They also discussed in detail the draft text of the proposed tariff agreement.

It is important to recall that on 3 April 2025, US President Donald Trump announced a tariff increase of up to 49% on goods imported from Cambodia, citing a 97% trade deficit in favor of Cambodia.

In response, Prime Minister Hun Manet has pledged to work hard in negotiating with the US and has called on the Cambodian people to trust the Royal Government to resolve the issue effectively.
=FRESH NEWS