Senior finance officials meet with a delegation from the US embassy in Cambodia on May 27. Finance ministry
The Cambodian government has reiterated its commitment to the transparent implementation of origin rules, particularly concerning exports to the US market.
Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth shared the Kindom’s position during a May 27 working meeting with Bridgette Walker, chargé d’affaires of the US embassy in Cambodia.
He also noted the government’s strong, proactive stance on enhancing legal mechanisms for crime prevention and suppression, as well as preventing the falsification of the origin of all products.
Pornmoniroth welcomed Walker and her delegation to the finance ministry headquarters and thanked the embassy team for their ongoing efforts to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation, which significantly supports Cambodia’s economic and social development.
He explained that the government is working on several initiatives to achieve its goal of graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2029 and becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030.
“To achieve this goal, Cambodia needs to maintain high economic growth, diversify its economy and ensure macroeconomic stability. Most importantly, we must attract private capital from foreign investors and development partners to this dynamic market. The US is a valuable partner and a major market for Cambodia, playing a vital role in supporting economic growth and social development,” he said.
Regarding the proposed 49% “reciprocal” tariffs that the administration of US President Donald trump has proposed imposing on Cambodian imports, the minister noted that Cambodia is actively addressing any factors that may negatively impact bilateral trade and investment relations.
This includes establishing a working group on US-Cambodia bilateral trade and investment coordination, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, which is fully prepared to engage in the upcoming second round of discussions on reciprocal tariffs with their US counterparts next week.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia is firmly committed to enhancing legal mechanisms to prevent and suppress crimes and stop the falsification of product origin. We are also promoting the transparent implementation of origin rules for exports to the US market,” he said.
Specifically, he explained that the government has issued an inter-ministerial proclamation between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Commerce on measures to prevent and stop origin fraud for certain goods exported to the US.
Additionally, the commerce ministry has issued a proclamation outlining procedures for applying and issuing certificates of origin for specific export goods to the US market. These efforts aim to attract more foreign investment into Cambodia.
Walker shared her appreciation for Cambodia’s socio-economic development, particularly the government’s efforts to diversify sources of private investment.
She also shared concerns about online scams, cybersecurity threats and internet-based financial fraud, which have negatively impacted the investment climate and economic environment in Cambodia and the broader region.
