🔗 Share this article Trump Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thai officials declared 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 explosion. Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting. American Economic Leverage Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained 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 implementing the joint ceasefire declaration. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson. President’s Economic Warning Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” 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,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.” Ceasefire Agreement Background The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize. The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Historic Frontier Conflict Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation. International news agency provided input for this coverage.