Honestly, and this may seem reductive, I think they’re behind on the development curve because of all that genocide. The Khmer Rouge murdered between 15-30% of the entire population, and upwards of 90% of the artists and intellectuals. They were overthrown in 1979 by the Vietnamese, who hung around for ten more years as colonists. Pol Pot lived until 1998, hiding out in the mountains and fomenting political unrest.

So there’s only been an unencumbered, modern Cambodia for about 25 years. Of course they’re behind. But some big ol’ tariffs will whip them into shape PDQ, pardner.