Part 6/15:
Despite China’s historic role as Cambodia’s largest trading partner and investor, the economic landscape has become more complex. While China has committed over $20 billion, the US remains Cambodia’s largest export market, with goods such as clothing, electronics, and machinery primarily routed through Chinese re-exports. This dependency created vulnerabilities, especially when the Trump administration in 2024 imposed a 49% tariff on certain Cambodian exports, equating to the tariffs on Chinese goods. Washington viewed Cambodia as an extension of China's economic influence, using it as a gateway for Chinese products to bypass U.S. tariffs, which threatened American manufacturing interests.