🔗 Share this article Trump Compels the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with Trade Penalties The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast. Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes. US Trade Pressure Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night. The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson. Trump’s Tariff Threat Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the ASEAN nation heads. The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.” Truce Deal Origins Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award. The most severe clashes in a ten years between military forces of both nations erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Historic Frontier Conflict The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation. Reuters provided input for this coverage.