Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Cambodia continues to maintain its significant market presence in the United States for critical exports, including garments, textiles, footwear, and travel goods. This assertion was made by Mr. Pen Sovicheat, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce.
During a conference on January 8, which reviewed trade performance for 2025 and outlined trade strategies for 2026, Mr. Sovicheat highlighted the successful bilateral trade negotiations as a key factor in securing this strong market position. These negotiations have enabled Cambodian exports to the US market to benefit from a customs duty rate of 19 percent, contributing significantly to Cambodia’s global trade footprint.
Furthermore, a notable trade agreement was formalized between Cambodia and the United States. This agreement was signed by His Excellency Donald Trump and Prime Minister Hun Manet during the ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 26, 2025. This underscores the strategic importance of the trade relationship between the two nations.
Mr. Pen Sovicheat also emphasized the Ministry of Commerce’s strict adherence to rules of origin for goods exported to the United States. This rigorous approach is implemented through the issuance of Certificates of Origin (OCL) for 120 potential key Cambodian products, ensuring compliance and facilitating smooth trade flows.
Official trade statistics recorded by the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia reveal impressive growth. From January to November (presumably of 2025, given the comparison to 2024), Cambodia’s total trade volume with the United States reached $11.877 billion, marking a substantial increase of 27.7 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Within this period, Cambodian exports amounted to over $9.058 billion, showing a robust growth of 27.1 percent. Concurrently, imports from the US stood at over $244 million, experiencing a significant rise of 50.3 percent.
Providing a broader perspective, Minister of Commerce Ms. Chhuon Nimol stated that Cambodia’s total trade volume with global partners in 2025 achieved $65.20 billion, an 18 percent increase. Exports, in particular, saw a commendable growth of 17 percent during the same year.
During the opening ceremony of the trade review conference on January 8, Ms. Chhuon Nimol further elaborated on Cambodia’s expanding market reach. She noted that the number of export destinations for Cambodian products surged to 169 countries or regions in 2025, a significant increase from 164 countries in 2024. Beyond the United States, Cambodia’s other major export markets include Vietnam, China, Japan, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Belgium, Italy, France, South Korea, Mexico, Poland, Hong Kong, Australia, Brazil, and India.
