AKP Phnom Penh, May 23, 2025 --

Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has expressed optimism about the upcoming second round of trade negotiations between Cambodia and the United States, hoping for a positive outcome.

The Premier made the remarks during a weekly plenary cabinet meeting held this morning at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

Samdech Thipadei noted that the first round of negotiations on the Cambodia-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade primarily served to establish positions and confirm key issues, characterising the process as inherently complex and time-consuming—a challenge common to all nations.

He also commended the Ad Hoc Cambodia-U.S. Bilateral Relations Coordination Working Group, led by H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, and H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, for their dedicated efforts. 

According to a press release of the Royal Government Spokesperson Unit, during their first round of negotiations, which took place on May 13-15, 2025 in Washington, D.C., the Ad Hoc Working Group and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative exchanged their views in a frank and constructive manner in an atmosphere of mutual understanding on ways to further strengthening bilateral trade and investment and had in-depth discussions on the draft Agreement. 
The second round of negotiations is scheduled for the first week of June 2025, also in Washington, D.C.

By C. Nika