The Cambodian government is prioritising diplomacy and trade talks in response to new US tariffs, calling on critics not to rush to judgement while negotiations are still ongoing.
The Royal Government Spokesperson Unit on Monday hosted the 7th Press Forum under the theme “Cambodia Standing Stronger on the National, Regional, and International Political Stage.”
Keynote speakers included Pen Bona, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister and Head of the Government Spokesperson Unit, and Jean-François Tain, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new trade policy dubbed “Liberation Day,” which included a universal 10% tariff on all imports and additional “reciprocal” tariffs targeting specific countries. Cambodia was among the most affected, facing a 49% tariff—the highest in ASEAN—due to its significant trade surplus with the US.
Speaking at the forum, Bona clarified that the tariff rates were calculated based on trade deficit levels between the US and each country.
“There was no other underlying reason, contrary to some claims. This event caused considerable confusion and disorder around the world,” he said. “The Royal Government of Cambodia, led by Prime Minister Hun Manet, treated this issue as an urgent priority.”
He added that Cambodia took a proactive approach by immediately reducing its own customs duties from 35% to 5% on 19 product categories. Minister Cham Nimul also sent a letter to the US Trade Representative reaffirming Cambodia’s commitment to trade cooperation.
“In parallel, the Royal Government introduced several necessary measures to prevent goods origin fraud, among others,” he said.
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The United States is Cambodia’s largest export market, accounting for nearly 38% of its total exports, primarily in garments and footwear. The sudden imposition of high tariffs posed a serious threat to these key sectors.
In response, Mr Hun Manet treated the issue as a national priority. He promptly sent a letter to President Trump expressing Cambodia’s commitment to constructive dialogue and proposing a reduction in tariffs on 19 US goods from 35% to 5%.
On April 9, the US government agreed to suspend the 49% tariff for 90 days, reducing it to a 10% baseline to allow time for negotiations. Cambodian officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol and Commerce Minister Cham Nimul, engaged in talks with US Trade Representative Sarah Ellerman.
To prepare for negotiations, Mr Hun Manet established a special task force led by Chanthol, also First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and Minister Cham Nimul. The team held multiple internal strategy meetings before engaging in two rounds of virtual talks with US counterparts, paving the way for face-to-face negotiations in Washington, D.C.
The first round of in-person talks was held as planned in mid-May, with both sides conducting focused and constructive discussions to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties. A second round is scheduled for early June.
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Bona noted that some critics have been too quick to blame the government, even though talks are still underway.
“I would like to inform our fellow citizens that trade negotiations take time — agreements cannot be reached in just one meeting. As we are aware, none of the countries that have negotiated with the United States regarding these tariff rates have reached a formal agreement yet, except for China, and even that required many rounds of meetings. This is not exclusive to Cambodia — I clarify this to avoid any misunderstanding.”
He explained that prior to the delegation’s trip to Washington, the Prime Minister chaired a thorough planning meeting to prepare for all possible scenarios. The delegation was composed of experts specifically selected to handle any technical or political issues raised by the US.
“The fact that the delegation was led by a Deputy Prime Minister also reflects the importance given to this mission — a clear example of the Prime Minister’s meticulous leadership,” he said.
Bona added that Mr Hun Manet has made it clear Cambodia is committed to maintaining strong relations with both the US and China.
“He meant that Cambodia needs both mustard greens and beef because together, they make a delicious dish. While it may sound humorous, it carries deep meaning: Cambodia has no enemies, only friends,” he said. “This is what we call wise diplomacy — to protect the interests of the nation and its people — a most appropriate and beneficial approach in the context of a multipolar world.”
He reiterated that President Trump’s retaliatory tariffs were intended to rebalance global trade flows, and urged that Cambodia’s response should remain calm, strategic, and focused on the national interest.
For his part, Jean-François Tain said Cambodia continues to strengthen diplomatic ties with both traditional allies and new partners. He noted that this renewed foreign policy momentum is being driven by the joint efforts of Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet.
As part of this effort, Mr Hun Sen made official visits to Timor-Leste on May 5 and Indonesia on May 7, reinforcing his stature not just as a national figure, but as a respected regional leader.
Through these visits, Mr Hun Sen contributed to Cambodia’s goal of building a balanced and resilient network of regional partnerships, he added.
