🔗 Share this article The US President Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion. Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting. US Trade Pressure Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening. He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson. Trump’s Tariff Threat Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” 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.” Truce Deal Origins Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award. The worst fighting in a ten years 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 Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides. Reuters contributed to this report.