Chanthol assures US tariff talks success in R3

Chanthol assures US tariff talks success in R3

The US will review the documents submitted by Cambodia before jointly determining a date for the third round of negotiations.

Since the end of the second round of tariff talks with the United States on June 4-6, Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, for the first time on Monday, said that Cambodia is hopeful of securing a successful outcome in the third round of US tariff negotiations.

Speaking at the 10th Anniversary of Cambodia Rice Federation in the capital, Chanthol said that Cambodia has submitted three documents on proposed tariff rates, compliance requirements, and taxation on American products.

Chanthol has been instrumental in leading a high-level Cambodian delegation, along with Commerce Minister Chum Nimal, for trade talks.

“So far, we have conducted two meetings in Washington DC,” Chanthol said, adding, “the first meeting was on May 13-14, and the second on June 4-6, while expecting to have the third meeting soon. Today, we have reviewed the final documents before submitting them to the US trade office.”

He emphasised the importance of the documents, which include a proposed trade agreement on tariffs, a set of compliance requirements for Cambodia, and a draft taxation framework for US products entering the Kingdom.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the submission documents are scheduled for June 16, after which the American side is expected to review the documents before jointly determining a date for the third round of negotiations focused on tariff issues.

“Negotiations are not done in one or two meetings to achieve good results. Some countries held five to six rounds of meetings but still did not get significant outcomes,” he noted, dismissing claims that Cambodia had failed in its negotiations with the Americans.

He made it clear that both sides have already held two video conferences and two in-person meetings in Washington DC, indicating mutual engagement on trade policy. These negotiations are pivotal to reinforcing Cambodia’s framework for international trade and ensuring tariff stability that benefits key sectors.

“I hope that these three documents, which have been sent and also received by the US, will pave the way for the third meeting shortly, and I believe that we can achieve fruitful negotiations with the Americans this time.”

The Deputy Prime Minister further highlighted the Royal Government’s determination and efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, which reflect Cambodia’s broader strategy to expand international market access, strengthen bilateral economic relations, and attract foreign investments.

Speaking to Khmer Times, Anthony Galliano, Vice-President of the AmCham Cambodia, and also Group CEO of Cambodian Investment Management Holdings, said that the intent of the pause, which the administration set an ambitious target to have ‘90 deal in 90 days’, was a grace period meant for negotiation and execution of trade deals.

Galliano said, “The expectation was that country-specific agreements would be closed, giving improved access, investment terms or tariff reductions, in exchange for avoiding harsh new US tariffs…. The administration was seeking a historic global reset on trade, shifting from broad multilateral deals to individual bilateral concessions that prioritised US industries.”

To date, out of the 90 deals that were targeted, only two agreements have been reached. These are framework deals with the United Kingdom and China, he said.

Cambodia is being very proactive and one of the leading negotiating countries, with two meetings completed with the US trade representative and formal proposals on the table, as the administration asked through its official letter sent urging countries to submit their ‘best offers’ before the July deadline.

“Given recent developments with the Middle East conflict, I believe the administration will either have an excuse to extend the July 8 deadline, as it is 88 deals behind its goal.”

khmertimeskh