WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Two new trade pacts with Malaysia and Cambodia are poised to boost U.S. agricultural exports, creating fresh market openings for everything from rice and ethanol to poultry and pork. The agreements mark another step in the Trump administration’s reciprocal trade push, aimed at reducing tariffs and streamlining barriers across Southeast Asia.
Malaysia’s deal grants preferential access for U.S. farm goods — including dairy, horticulture, pork, poultry, and processed foods — while committing to accept U.S. sanitary certificates and simplify halal and facility registrations. Cambodia goes further, eliminating tariffs on 100 percent of U.S. industrial and agricultural imports, giving American grains, oilseeds, and meats full tariff-free entry for the first time. Both countries pledged to address non-tariff barriers and to align their standards with U.S. regulations.
Agricultural analysts say the deals could strengthen farm incomes in export-heavy regions like the Midwest, Delta, and Pacific Northwest, while supporting new trade channels for ethanol, soymeal, and livestock products. Faster access to halal-compliant markets also benefits U.S. poultry and beef producers seeking reliable export growth beyond China and Mexico.
