🔗 Share this article Trump Pressures Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing. Rising Border Hostilities Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion. Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting. US Trade Pressure On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring 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 US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson. President’s Economic Warning Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the south-east Asian leaders. 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.” Ceasefire Agreement Background The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize. The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Longstanding Border Dispute Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation. Reuters contributed to this report.