Minister of Commerce H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul hosted a working breakfast with H.E. Igor Driesmans, Ambassador of the European Union to the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Renita Bhaskar, Head of the Economic and Trade Section at the EU Delegation. The meeting, which included respective technical teams, focused on expanding joint trade initiatives and strengthening the overall partnership between Cambodia and the EU.

Minister Nimul highlighted the Royal Government’s ongoing efforts to significantly improve Cambodia’s business climate, notably through preparations for the country’s eventual graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) status.

She reaffirmed the Royal Government’s commitment to regulatory reforms and strategic economic diversification, essential steps for ensuring a smooth transition and sustaining long-term growth.

In response, Ambassador Driesmans commended the strong and close cooperation between the EU and Cambodia. He reiterated the EU’s readiness to advance their joint work programme and deepen engagement across key trade sectors.

The Ambassador also underscored the importance of sustained, productive dialogue to ensure that bilateral cooperation remains effective and mutually beneficial for both parties.

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The agreement was inked this afternoon between NongDe Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. and Zhengzhou Chen’s Sun Fruit and Vegetable Trade Co., Ltd., enabling the export of Cambodian vegetables and fruits to Henan province.

The signing was witnessed by H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, and visiting H.E. Zheng Haiyang, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Henan Province, China.

Prior to the signing, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul and H.E. Zheng Haiyang held a productive discussion on deepening and expanding trade and investment cooperation between Cambodia and Henan province.

On the occasion, the Cambodian Commerce Minister encouraged more Chinese investors to explore Cambodia’s potential sectors, particularly modern agriculture, food processing, automobile, electronics, and digital technology.

She also urged the private sectors of both countries to maximise the benefits of existing free trade agreements (FTAs)—including the Cambodia-China FTA, ASEAN-China FTA, and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)—to advance bilateral cooperation and pave the way for further agreements for the benefit of both nations and their people.

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The event’s opening ceremony was presided over by H.E. Mrs. CHAM Nimul, Minister of Commerce and attended by Mr. Milan Thomas, Senior Economist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Cambodia; Mr. Paul Akiwumi, Director for Africa and LDCs at United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); as well as representatives from relevant ministries and government agencies, representatives of donors, development partners, and the private sector.

Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Minister mentioned that this research study will contribute to the preparation of the Cambodia Trade Policy Framework towards 2030 and support the development of Cambodia’s trade agenda for a smooth graduation from LDC status. In this context, she stated that the Ministry of Commerce has been formulating trade policies to respond to the gradual loss of trade preferences, legal flexibilities, and financing programmes, which are important contributors to the Cambodia’s trade and economic development.

H.E. Mrs. CHAM Nimul also emphasised that preparing for graduation from least developed country status requires legal and institutional reforms, strengthening of productive capacity, facilitation of export diversification, and continued deepening of trade and economic integration into regional and global markets.

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Minister Nimul delivered this crucial message during the closing ceremony of the “AWE BizFest,” held at Factory Phnom Penh on Saturday afternoon, May 31, 2025. The event, organized by the U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom of Cambodia, marked a significant milestone for women in business.

The ceremony saw the attendance of numerous dignitaries, including His Excellencies, leaders from relevant ministries and institutions, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia, the President of the Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Association, and a wide array of distinguished national and international guests.

Minister Nimul expressed her profound pleasure and gratitude to the U.S. Embassy, Pannasastra University of Cambodia, and Impact Hub. She lauded their dedication and continued partnership, which were instrumental in bringing this “visionary initiative” to reality.

The Minister underscored the importance of the “AWE BizFest” as a program that powerfully demonstrates the empowerment of women to thrive in business and innovation. She conveyed her excitement at having participated in both the opening ceremony of AWE in September and now witnessing the impressive achievements of the 30 candidates after nine months of effort, particularly the announcement of the three winners of the Pitch Competition.

Reiterating her initial call, the Minister specifically mentioned the Export Service Center of the Ministry of Commerce. She again urged all entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs seeking assistance from the Ministry, to directly contact the Ministry’s working group or engage through its social media channels.

Looking ahead, Minister Nimul voiced her strong hope that all candidates who successfully completed the training course will continue to expand their businesses and promote their products to the international market, further boosting their potential.

The event concluded with the Minister congratulating everyone on the successful “AWE BizFest” and extending her congratulations to the three victorious winners. She also expressed a firm hope for a second training session to be held in the near future, indicating continued commitment to supporting the entrepreneurial community.

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Speaking at the inauguration of the two-storey Morodok Techo Flyover in Phnom Penh’s Kbal Thnal area yesterday, the Cambodian Premier announced the formation of a dedicated working group to handle this matter. This working group is under the leadership of H.E. Sun Chanthol, the Deputy Prime Minister, and H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, the Minister of Commerce.

Prime Minister Hun Manet explicitly stated that “H.E. Sun Chanthol and H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul will travel to the U.S. as soon as they receive the green light from the American side.” This development follows the Cambodian government’s announcement last Friday of an immediate reduction in tariffs on 19 categories of U.S. imports and a formal request for negotiations with the U.S. concerning the implementation of tariffs on Cambodian goods.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Hun Manet has sent an official letter to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, seeking discussions in response to the U.S. administration’s imposition of a 49 percent tariff on Cambodian products, which is scheduled to take effect tomorrow, April 9, 2025.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet reiterated Cambodia’s strong commitment to engaging in constructive and productive dialogue with the U.S. government to further deepen the bilateral trade relationship, ensuring that both nations and their peoples can benefit tangibly from these significant trade ties.

In a parallel diplomatic effort, Minister of Commerce H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul has sent a letter to Ambassador H.E. Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, requesting the establishment of a negotiation mechanism and a postponement of the tariff implementation.

She noted that this extension would provide necessary time for consultations with relevant stakeholders and a comprehensive assessment of alternative approaches that would support both U.S. economic interests and Cambodia’s sustainable development goals.

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Her remarks came in response to the U.S. government’s announcement on April 2 (U.S. time) of a 49 percent tariff on Cambodian imports, set to take effect on April 9, 2025.

In an exclusive interview with the National Television of Cambodia (TVK) this evening, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul emphasised that the Ministry of Economy and Finance has been holding consultations with relevant ministries and the private sector to gather inputs to respond and sustain Cambodia’s economy stability.

The minister clarified that Cambodia does not impose a 97 percent tariff on U.S. imports, as claimed. Instead, the Kingdom adheres to World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations, with its highest tariff on U.S. goods set at 29.4 percent—well below the WTO’s allowable limit of 35 percent.

H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul also pointed out that the new U.S. tariff will primarily impact American buyers due to the increase in prices, and then Cambodian producers and investors, particularly in the garment and textile sectors.

Earlier today, H.E. Meas Soksensan, Secretary of State and spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy and Finance, stated that a ministerial working group is assessing the potential economic impact of the tariff increase to develop strategies that will help maintain Cambodia’s trade competitiveness.

“A dedicated working group is evaluating the implications of this new tariff. The Royal Government is closely monitoring the situation and preparing measures to mitigate its impact,” he said.

In 2024, bilateral trade between Cambodia and the U.S. reached US$10.18 billion, marking an 11.2 percent increase from the previous year. Cambodia’s exports to the U.S. totaled US$9.9 billion (up 11.4 percent), while imports from the U.S. amounted to US$264.14 million (up 2.7 percent), according to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia.

This data underscores the U.S. as one of Cambodia’s largest export markets.

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The co-facilitators present were H.E. João Aguiar Machado, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the WTO, and H.E. Salomon Eheth, Permanent Representative of Cameroon to the WTO, as detailed by the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP)  today.

According to AKP, the meeting involved an update from the co-facilitators on the IFDA’s progress. They also stressed the ongoing commitment of all initiative members to integrate the IFDA into the WTO framework. The IFDA’s objective, as stated by the ministry and relayed by the AKP, is to support WTO members participating in the Agreement by improving their investment and business climate.

This includes simplifying investor processes across all sectors, promoting investment ease, and facilitating business operations and growth among the participating parties. Currently, 126 WTO members are involved in the IFDA, including 27 least-developed countries.

On the same day, Minister CHAM Nimul also met with Mr. PAUL Akiwumi, Director for Africa, LDCs, and Special Programmes of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

This meeting focused on discussing cooperation between Cambodia and UNCTAD, particularly concerning the organization of workshops related to rules of origin, LDC graduation, and the development of Cambodia’s Trade Policy Framework toward 2030 for the Ministry of Commerce.”

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The three-day review (Mar. 26–28) will see Cambodia, represented by the Ministry of Commerce, respond to over 300 written and oral questions from approximately 20 WTO member countries. These questions focus on Cambodia’s trade and investment policies, legal frameworks, market opportunities, and business conditions.

Before the WTO’s director-general, secretariat, and member state representatives, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul delivered comprehensive and confident responses, highlighting Cambodia’s compliance with WTO principles and its adaptive, responsible approach to global trade trends. She emphasised the country’s legal and regulatory alignment with international standards, ensuring a predictable and open trade environment.

The minister also expressed gratitude to nations that have supported Cambodia’s trade policies and reaffirmed the Royal Government’s readiness to address further inquiries.

Cambodia joined the WTO in 2004 under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. Today, the WTO has 166 member states, serving as the sole global body regulating international trade laws and agreements.

As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Cambodia has previously benefited from trade concessions, including the European Union’s “Everything But Arms” (EBA) scheme, which grants duty-free access for all exports except weapons. However, due to significant economic progress, Cambodia is set to graduate from LDC status by the end of 2029—a milestone reflecting the nation’s development achievements.

This transition, while a point of national pride, means Cambodia will lose certain trade privileges, including the EBA scheme. The EU has already reduced EBA benefits by 20 percent, with full withdrawal expected by 2030.

The TPR, conducted every seven years for LDCs (compared to five for developed nations), allows WTO members to assess Cambodia’s trade policies.

Cambodia’s impending LDC graduation underscores its remarkable recovery and growth, recognised by the WTO, EU, and World Bank. While new trade challenges lie ahead, the royal government remains focused on strengthening competitiveness and diversifying its economic partnerships.

While Cambodia prepares for its transition away from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the royal government is actively pursuing bilateral and multilateral partnerships to mitigate the impact of losing preferential trade benefits.

Under the leadership of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, the Royal Government of Cambodia of the 7th Legislature of the National Assembly, has intensified economic diplomacy, fostering stronger trade, investment, and sectoral cooperation both regionally and globally.

During her mission in Switzerland, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, seized the opportunity to bolster Cambodia’s economic ties. She met with H.E. Helene Budliger Artieda, Switzerland’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs, in Bern on March 24, to discuss enhanced trade and investment collaboration. The talks also covered regional and multilateral frameworks to expand economic opportunities for both nations.

The following day Mar. 25, at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul held discussions with Dr. Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a global programme supporting trade capacity-building in LDCs. Their meeting focused on ongoing EIF-backed projects in Cambodia, their socio-economic impact, and future cooperation to strengthen trade competitiveness post-LDC graduation.

This month marks Cambodia’s third WTO Trade Policy Review (TPR), following previous assessments in 2011 and 2017.

The review highlights Cambodia’s evolving trade landscape and its compliance with global standards as it transitions toward a more developed economy.

With LDC graduation set for 2029, Cambodia is proactively engaging with international partners to sustain its economic momentum. While preferential schemes like the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) will phase out, the royal government remains committed to diversifying trade partnerships and enhancing competitiveness through strategic diplomacy.

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The official launch, held on February 24th, was presided over by H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, and attended by key figures from various ministries, institutions, academia, and the private sector.

The report reveals significant growth in Cambodia’s e-commerce market, which was valued at $1.51 billion in 2024, up from $1.29 billion in the previous year. Projections indicate that e-commerce revenue is expected to reach $1.78 billion in 2025.

“The Ministry of Commerce is taking decisive steps to become more fit-for-purpose in supporting Cambodia’s E-commerce and digital trade ambitions,” H.E. Minister Cham Nimul stated. “By strengthening its institutional capacity, the ministry aims to provide more dedicated and targeted support to the industry, ensuring that businesses and consumers alike can fully leverage the opportunities presented by digital transformation.”

“The comprehensive report will serve as an important reference for policymakers, businesses, and development partners seeking to advance Cambodia’s E-commerce agenda,” she added. “The 2024 E-commerce Report provides a comprehensive analysis of Cambodia’s E-commerce landscape and outlines key considerations for the expansion of E-commerce and digital trade.”

Produced by PROFITENCE (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., the report is based on extensive consumer surveys and expert interviews, providing actionable recommendations tailored to the Cambodian context. It addresses both the opportunities and challenges faced by businesses and policymakers in the digital trade space.

“As Cambodia continues to deepen its digital integration, the evolution from E-commerce to a broader digital trade ecosystem will be instrumental in ensuring long-term economic resilience and global competitiveness,” the minister said, highlighting the report’s timely release as Cambodia progresses towards LDC graduation in 2029.

The report emphasizes the need for nationwide inclusivity, recommending improvements in infrastructure, strengthened regulations, localized strategies, and enhanced consumer education to ensure equitable access to the benefits of e-commerce and digital trade.

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Minister stated that developing high-quality food products is essential for providing consumers with new, delicious options for daily consumption, and opens doors to international markets, showcasing Khmer culinary arts and attracting food tourism to Cambodia.

Minister Nimul made these remarks at the inauguration of the Processing and Innovation Center and the Labiocert Quality Control Laboratory on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

She urged all stakeholders—producers, processors, and traders—to capitalize on these new facilities to enhance Cambodia’s food sector. The Minister encouraged companies to collaborate with domestic and international partners, universities, and research institutions to explore new methods, improve quality, and gain international recognition.

Minister also stressed the importance of registering intellectual property rights, including trademarks, industrial designs, patents, and copyrights, to protect innovations. She advised companies to work closely with the Ministry of Commerce’s export promotion team to learn about import requirements, explore business partnerships, and expand international exports.

Finally, she encouraged active participation in trade fairs, business forums, and trade missions organized by the Ministry of Commerce to further promote Cambodian products and secure new business and investment opportunities.

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