🔗 Share this article Trump Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with Tariff Warnings Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade negotiations could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing. Rising Border Hostilities In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast. Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes. US Trade Pressure On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening. The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement. “Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated 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 suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the ASEAN nation heads. The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.” Truce Deal Origins Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted 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 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 originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides. Reuters provided input for this coverage.