Cambodia is optimistic about progress in its ongoing trade negotiations with the United States. A top development official says a third round of talks on reciprocal tariffs is expected to succeed, though observers warn that the country must maintain a neutral stance on the global stage.
Sun Chanthol, First Vice President of Cambodia’s Council for the Development, has expressed confidence that the upcoming third round of tariff negotiations with the United States will be successful. His comments follow a second round of talks in which both sides reached consensus on several key provisions.
Speaking on June 16, Sun Chanthol confirmed that Cambodia had submitted its final documentation to the US Trade Representative’s Office. The documents include a draft reciprocal trade agreement, a proposed tax framework on US imports, and compliance requirements expected of Cambodia.
He noted that reaching a trade agreement is a complex and lengthy process, stating that success cannot be achieved in just one or two meetings. He added that some countries have held five or six rounds of talks without concluding a deal.
Cambodian negotiators, led by Sun Chanthol, Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul and other trade experts, have already visited the United States twice for discussions with US trade officials.
During both rounds of talks, the Cambodian delegation met with Sarah Ellerman, the Assistant US Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. While no final outcome has yet been announced, both sides have reviewed the draft text of a reciprocal trade agreement and have agreed on several provisions.
However, development policy advisor Sek Socheat told The Cambodia Daily on June 9 that Cambodia must maintain strict neutrality in its foreign policy. He warned that aligning too closely with either China or the United States could hurt Cambodia’s long-term national interests.
Sek Socheat stressed that neutrality would allow Cambodia to avoid economic and political bias toward any major power. He explained that leaning toward China could yield limited benefits, while favoring the United States might also carry risks. Remaining neutral, he said, is Cambodia’s only viable option for sustainable national development.
He also cautioned that failure to reach a deal with the United States could have serious economic consequences. Investors, he warned, may shift their operations to neighboring countries such as Thailand or Vietnam, which currently enjoy lower export tariffs to the US market.
