(Phnom Penh): Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, First Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) and Head of the Working Group on Tariff Negotiations with the United States, described the reduction of US tariffs on Cambodian goods from 49% to 36% as a major success marking the first step forward in negotiations.

Speaking at a press conference on July 8, 2025, at the CDC headquarters, Sun Chanthol revealed that among the 14 countries targeted in identical letters by for US President Donald Trump, Cambodia secured the most significant tariff cut.

“This rate reduction is a major success in our negotiations,” said Sun Chanthol. “We achieved it with integrity and transparency, following the clear guidance of Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet. The new rate will take effect on August 1, 2025, unless additional negotiations occur before that date.”

He also noted that President Trump’s letter to the Cambodian prime minister left room for continued talks prior to the implementation deadline. “Our working group remains fully prepared to continue negotiations,” he affirmed.

The deputy prime minister encouraged investors to keep their factories here and trust the Royal Government’s capacity to manage trade matters effectively under the leadership of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet.
=FRESH NEWS