Canada-Cambodia relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada’s bilateral relationship with Cambodia has spanned many decades, dating to the Indochina conflict, when Canada participated in the International Control Commission established in 1953. Canada is also a party to the Paris Peace Accords of 1991, which ended decades of conflict. Canada-Cambodia relations encompass the full range of political, economic, development and regional-security issues, as well as a promising commercial relations program.
Canada’s relations with Cambodia are managed by the Embassy of Canada to Thailand, in Bangkok. Bilateral political and commercial relations are conducted through the Office of the Embassy of Canada to Cambodia, in Phnom Penh. Consular services for Canadians in Cambodia, including limited passport and citizenship services, are also available through the Office.
Cambodia’s representation in Canada is managed by the Cambodian mission to the United Nations in New York City, New York. There are over 41,900 Canadians of Cambodian descent.
Canada’s engagement with Cambodia has focused on: strengthening democracy; promoting human rights and the rule of law; development cooperation in sustainable economic growth; food security; and global and regional security.
Trade relations
Canada is one of Cambodia’s top export destinations and bilateral merchandise trade were valued at $2.1 billion in 2023, down from $2.4 billion in 2022. Cambodia benefits from Canada’s Market Access Initiative for least developed countries, which allows qualifying states quota-free and duty-free access to the Canadian market. Canada is one of Cambodia’s top export destinations.
Exports to Cambodia were valued at $37.2 million in 2023, up from $33.3 million in 2022. Merchandise imports from Cambodia have been on a general upward trend since 2002 and reaching $1.8 billion in 2021 and $2.4 billion in 2022. Key Canadian export products are vehicles, aircrafts and aircraft parts, fur skins, and industrial machinery. Top Canadian imports include apparel, footwear and textiles.
Canadian direct investment abroad in Cambodia amounted to $1.6 billion in 2023.
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Operations
Canada and Cambodia cooperate on a variety of issues. This cooperation has been particularly productive in areas such as the international effort to ban anti-personnel mines and the training of border officials in interview techniques and detecting document fraud. Ongoing challenges include addressing issues of human rights, corruption, press freedom and the trafficking and exploitation of women and children in Cambodia.
Canada regularly engages Cambodia in multilateral fora such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and La Francophonie.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Cambodia work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- La Francophonie
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Pacific Alliance
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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