The Cambodia News Agency (AKP) reported on the evening of April 4 that the Royal Government of Cambodia has announced an immediate tax reduction for 19 types of goods imported from the US, and at the same time proposed that Washington negotiate on imposing taxes on Cambodia's imported goods.
In a message sent on the same day to US President Donald Trump quoted by VNA reporter in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that in response to Mr. Trump's recent announcement on February 2 of imposing a 49% tax on Cambodian products since April 9, Cambodia proposed to negotiate with the US government as soon as possible and wished to ask Washington to consider postponing the implementation of the above tariffs.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that the current maximum tariffs applied by Cambodia to US goods are 35%. To demonstrate Cambodia's goodwill and in the spirit of strengthening bilateral trade relations, Phnom Penh is committed to promoting product imports in the US by immediately reducing 19 types of products from the maximum binding tax rate of 35% to the applicable tax rate of 5%.
The Cambodian leader reaffirmed the country's strong commitment to participating in an effective and constructive dialogue with the US Government to further enhance bilateral trade, so that the two countries and people of the two countries can benefit from this important trade relationship.
At the same time, regarding this issue, Cambodian Trade Minister Cham Nimul also called on US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to "establish a negotiation mechanism and extend the deadline for taxation to allow consultations with relevant parties as well as carefully assess alternative approaches to protect both the economic interests of the US and the sustainable development of Cambodia.
Ms. Cham Nimul stated: Cambodia attaches great importance to its long-standing relationship with the US, the relationship built on mutual respect, mutual interests and constructive cooperation over many decades, in which most of Cambodias exports to the US are in addition to US goods and industry.
