US and China Embassies Argue over Cambodia Trade Relationship

The United States embassy has alleged that Cambodia's relationship is heavily skewed in China's favour. Taking to its official Facebook page, the US embassy said about 87 per cent of trade are Chinese imports, which do not support jobs or industry in the same way Cambodia's trade relationship with the United States or EU does. "This is just one more way Cambodia has shifted from a more balanced and diverse economic approach to one more dependent on China."

In response, the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh accused the US embassy of trying to stir things up with trade deficit issues. It said the US is trying to stir things up again with the so-called trade deficit issue. "It is common sense that in a globalized world, the trade goes far beyond bilateral." The Chinese embassy said while Cambodia imports large amounts of textile raw materials and machinery from China for the garment industry, it exports final products to all over the world, including the US and EU. "Besides, the state-to-state relationship is not just about trade.

It is worth noting that China has built 31 highways and 8 bridges for Cambodia with the total length of highway up to more than 300 kilometres, what has the US done in this area?" The Chinese embassy added that it had also helped build hydropower stations in Cambodia.