Cambodia Set for Trade Talks with Switzerland

The Ministry of Commerce has completed a feasibility study for trade talks with Switzerland as Cambodia looks to expand trade ties.

The study has received support from the World Trade Organization’s Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), ministry spokesperson Penn Sovicheat said.

Enhancing markets and expanding into new ones are priorities for the ministry. It has pledged to integrate Khmer products with export potential, including garments, footwear, travel goods and vehicle tires, regardless of export quotas.

“If we don’t have EBA anymore in the future, we will still have bilateral trade. Thus, garments, footwear and travel goods, vehicle tires and agricultural products will definitely reach new markets,” the spokesperson said.

Sovicheat said talks with Switzerland will also cover commercial cooperation that could pave the way for future service exports from Cambodia.

The ministry is confident Switzerland can provide additional cooperation, particularly in training and intellectual property, from which Cambodia could benefit.

“In the artificial intelligence era, Cambodian young people are capable of creating programs related to technological services with recognized quality,” he said. 

“We can export those services because trade in services falls under the WTO framework, and we can commit to expanding services to the global market.”

Switzerland is an important trade partner that has provided significant support to Cambodia through the EIF, a WTO-anchored program that helps least developed countries achieve growth, sustainable development and poverty reduction, Sovicheat said.

Successful Ties with UK, Turkey and Beyond

Beyond Switzerland, the ministry is accelerating implementation of a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom on a trade and investment forum. The forum is seen as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation as Cambodia prepares to graduate from least developed country status by 2029.

“The forum will bring remarkable benefits for Cambodia when the country leaves LDC status,” Sovicheat said. “We can still implement a bilateral trade framework with the UK.”

Cambodia also held the fourth meeting of the Cambodia-Turkey Joint Economic Commission in November 2025, deepening cooperation in commerce, services, investment, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aviation.

“Turkey is a gateway connecting Cambodia to African countries and neighboring markets in the Middle East,” Sovicheat said.

Cambodia will continue negotiating other trade agreements, including multilateral frameworks, to expand into global markets, said Phan Phalla, an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

This includes Cambodia’s intention to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a high-standard regional trade pact that could support market expansion.

The bloc currently has 12 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the UK. All members must agree to accept new applicants, including China.

Speaking at a public forum on Feb. 2, Phalla said Cambodia is preparing for accession negotiations and has already submitted its application.

Cambodia is implementing free trade agreements with China and South Korea, as well as a comprehensive agreement with the United Arab Emirates, in addition to ASEAN and other external trade frameworks.

Sovicheat said Cambodia continues to secure preferential access to key markets under European Union, bilateral, multilateral and regional frameworks.

In 2025, Cambodia’s trade volume with major partners reached more than $65.2 billion, up 17.66 percent. Exports totaled about $31.28 billion, up 16.95 percent, while imports reached $33.96 billion, up 18.32 percent.

Source: Cambodianess