US trade treaty to aid Cambodia’s TPP ambitions

As Prime Minister Hun Sen attends the US-ASEAN Summit in California on 15 February, government officials are in the midst of ongoing negotiations with their American counterparts to formulate a trade and investment agreement, which analysts say could be a stepping stone towards one day joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

At a meeting in Phnom Penh last week, representatives from both countries, headed by Secretary of State for Commerce Pan Sorasak and Assistant US Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Barbara Weisel, focused on expediting a bilateral investment treaty, as well as enhancing trade capacities, said Ken Ratha, spokesman for the Commerce Ministry.

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