Millions of garment workers across Asia are bracing for job losses as the deadline to finalize trade deals with the US approaches. On July 9, President Donald Trump announced that new tariffs, set to take effect on August 1 will hit key apparel-exporting nations, including Cambodia and Sri Lanka, with rates of 36% and 30%, respectively.
Cambodia’s garment sector, employing over 900,000 people, earned $3 billion from US exports last year. Sri Lanka, where the industry supports 350,000 workers, brought in $1.9 billion. Both economies rely heavily on the US market, supplying brands like Nike, Levi’s, and Lululemon.
For workers like Nao Soklin in Cambodia, who earns $570 a month with her husband sewing bags, the looming tariffs mean more than numbers. “I’m so worried, especially for my kids. They need food,” she said.
Governments are scrambling for concessions. Sri Lanka secured a 14-point reduction in earlier negotiations, while Cambodia won a 13-point cut, but both nations are pushing for further relief.
Trump defends the tariffs as part of efforts to balance trade. Critics argue they threaten the very development the US once supported by driving up costs for American brands and straining already fragile economies.
Women, who make up 70% of the workforce, are especially vulnerable. Wage cuts and layoffs could push families deeper into poverty, forcing some workers to migrate illegally in search of work.
Trade experts say the tariffs also reflect US-China rivalry, as many factories in Cambodia and Sri Lanka rely heavily on Chinese inputs. Analysts warn that the tariffs could destabilize supply chains, disrupt jobs, and deepen existing crises in both countries.
As negotiations continue, workers like An Sopheak in Phnom Penh can only hope for relief: “We pray every day that President Trump will lift the tariff. Please think about us and our poor country.”
