PHNOM PENH (Xinhua): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has sought negotiations after the US government imposed a 49 per cent tariff on products from the kingdom.
The United States on Wednesday announced reciprocal tariffs on goods imported from dozens of its trade partners, including Cambodia.
The US tariffs on goods imported from Cambodia will be increased to 49 percent, which will take effect on April 9, 2025.
In a letter sent to US President Donald Trump, Hun Manet requested negotiations, urging Trump to postpone the tariff implementation on Cambodian products.
"Cambodia proposes to negotiate with Your Honorable's administration at the earliest convenient time and wishes to request that your esteemed government consider postponing the above-mentioned tariff implementation," the Cambodian leader said.
Hun Manet said the existing practice of Cambodia's maximum tariff rate tops at 35 percent.
"In expression of our good faith and in spirit of strengthening our bilateral trade relations, Cambodia is committed to promoting US based product imports with an immediate reduction of 19 product categories from our maximum 35 per cent tariff-bound rate to 5 per cent applied tariff rate," he said.
"In this regard, I have also tasked my Minister of Commerce to correlate with the U.S. Trade Representative," he added.
Hun Manet said Cambodia remains fully committed to engaging in constructive and productive dialogue with the US government to further deepen bilateral trade, so both nations and peoples can enjoy tangible benefits from these significant trade relations. -- Xinhua
