🔗 Share this article The US President Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart. Rising Border Hostilities In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion. Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting. American Economic Leverage Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on Friday night. He quoted the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement. “Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated a different official representative. President’s Economic Warning Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders. He stated, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.” Ceasefire Agreement Background Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize. The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced. Longstanding Border Dispute Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation. Reuters contributed to this report.