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U.S. exports to Cambodia surge 96% after duty-free access

Terry Felix​​​​   On January 20, 2026 - 12:53 pm​   In Economics  
U.S. exports to Cambodia surge 96% after duty-free access U.S. exports to Cambodia surge 96% after duty-free access

PHNOM PENH, Jan 20, 2026 — U.S. exports to Cambodia jumped 96% after Phnom Penh granted duty-free access to American goods, the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia said, highlighting the early impact of a new reciprocal tariff arrangement.

AmCham Cambodia president Casey Barnett said Cambodia began allowing all U.S.-made products to enter duty-free in August 2025, a move aimed at easing reciprocal tariffs. From August to December, U.S. exports rose across 54 of 85 product categories, led by a ninefold increase in refined petroleum products, alongside gains in vehicles, plastics, paper, textiles inputs, food products, and machinery.

AmCham Cambodia president Casey Barnett

Barnett said some imports shifted from regional suppliers to the United States, including certain dairy products, amid supply diversification. He noted that while the agreement is tilted toward U.S. exports, Cambodia ran a large trade surplus with the United States in 2024—exporting $12.7 billion while importing about $300 million—reflecting limited domestic purchasing power and regulatory hurdles that can slow U.S. market access.

The deal also includes governance-related commitments, such as improving transparency, publishing draft regulations and official fees, strengthening labor dispute resolution, and combating counterfeiting—measures Barnett said would primarily benefit Cambodia. Cambodia’s Commerce Ministry reported bilateral trade exceeded $13 billion in 2025, up 29.24% year-on-year, with Cambodian exports to the United States rising 28.48% and imports from the United States increasing 57.83%.

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