🔗 Share this article The US President Urges Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart. Rising Border Hostilities Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion. Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes. US Trade Pressure Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening. He quoted the letter as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on 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,” said a different official representative. President’s Economic Warning Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads. He stated, “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 peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize. The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, 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 originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides. International news agency provided input for this coverage.