AKP Phnom Penh, August 01, 2025 --

The Textile, Apparel, Footwear & Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC) has issued a statement expressing its profound appreciation to the Royal Government of Cambodia and U.S. President Donald J. Trump for a newly negotiated trade deal with the United States.

The agreement sets a 19 percent tariff rate on Cambodian goods, a rate the association describes as comparable to those of its primary competitors, TAFTAC said in a statement issued on Aug. 1.

“We also extend our heartfelt thanks to U.S. President Donald J. Trump for his kind consideration and support of this important trade deal, which will significantly benefit Cambodian workers and strengthen economic ties between our two nations,” it said.

TAFTAC commended President Trump for his instrumental role in fostering peace between Cambodia and Thailand. This historic achievement not only ensures regional stability but also reinforces the foundation for continued economic growth and cooperation in Southeast Asia.

The GFT industry is the largest foreign exchange earner for the Kingdom. The sector employs approximately nearly one million workers, mostly female.

The U.S. announced on Aug. 1 that it reduced tariffs on Cambodian exports to 19 percent, down from the initial rate of 49 percent and subsequently 36 percent under Phase 1.

There are a total of 1,682 factories and enterprises in Cambodia as of the end of June this year.

Cambodia exported US$7.38 billion worth of garment, footwear and travel products in the first half of 2025, up 22 percent from the US$6.02 billion reported in the same period a year earlier, according to a report from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet this morning expressed his sincere gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for his sympathetic consideration of Cambodia’s future development, describing the move as “good news for the Cambodian people and the national economy,” enabling Cambodia to continue its development trajectory.

By Chea Vannak