Sun Chanthol (front row right), Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, speaks to the media before departing from the Phnom Penh International Airport to the United States, on Saturday. Cham Nimul (front row left), Minister of Commerce and other key officials are accompanying Chanthol for tariff talks. - Photo: Khmer Times
PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times): After weeks of constructive engagement with the US representatives, a high-level delegation led by Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), has left for the United States for tariff negotiations, expressing optimism about achieving a positive outcome.
The delegation included Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, and Kun Nhem, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Director General of the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) along with other key dignitaries – bringing the total number of senior officials to 19.
Before departing from the Phnom Penh International Airport, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the Royal Government’s earnest efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, noting that constructive discussions with US representatives in mid-April had paved the way for formal negotiations scheduled from May 13-15.
“Despite the concerns, the US still agreed to meet with us. In fact, Cambodia is among the first 18 to 20 countries allowed to engage in tariff negotiations. This signals a meaningful opportunity to reach a successful agreement that protects the livelihoods and interests of our people,” Chanthol said.
He further emphasised that the US has recognised Cambodia’s limited purchasing power, noting that while Cambodia imports only around $300 million worth of goods from the US annually, America imports approximately $12 billion from Cambodia.
“We cannot possibly balance trade with them, and I’m very pleased that they have accepted this reality,” he noted.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), complimented the Deputy Prime Minister and the delegation following the official approval to discuss with the US on traffic issues.
Regarding bargaining power, Sam underscored three key disparities between Cambodia and the US namely differences in population size, economic scale and military capabilities.
He said, “Cambodia’s population stands at approximately 17 million, while the US has over 330 million people, making its population nearly 20 times larger and highlighting a significant demographic imbalance between the two nations.”
“Economically, the US is the world’s largest economy by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with an estimated GDP of approximately $30 trillion, compared to Cambodia’s annual GDP of about $50 billion – a striking difference of nearly 600 times.”
He added that when it comes to military strength, the US remains the most powerful nation globally, possessing the most advanced and effective weapons systems including warships and fighter jets. In contrast, Cambodia, as a developing country, can scarcely afford a significant military arsenal.”
Sam emphasised that if the US side genuinely acknowledges the disparity between the two countries, Cambodia stands a strong chance of securing a favourable negotiation outcome.
“However, if the American expectations are proportional to the trade volume, it will be impossible for us to return with any concrete agreements,” he noted.
He expressed confidence in the Deputy Prime Minister’s negotiation abilities, noting that Chanthol’s dual citizenship, including US nationality, gives him a deeper insight into the American mindset and how to effectively address their interests.
Nonetheless, Sam voiced concern over Cambodia’s increasingly close political alignment with China, particularly following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Phnom Penh in mid-April.
He stressed that the Royal Government must clearly articulate Cambodia’s policy position to the US, warning that the Kingdom must not appear to fall under China’s influence otherwise the Trump administration would likely reject any proposed deal. - Khmer Times
