🔗 Share this article The US President Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from collapsing. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast. Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting. American Economic Leverage Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening. The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that trade negotiations – 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 Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings 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,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.” Truce Deal Origins The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize. The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced. Longstanding Border Dispute The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides. Reuters provided input for this coverage.