🔗 Share this article The US President Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast. Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting. American Economic Leverage Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on Friday night. The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration. “Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated a different official representative. President’s Economic Warning Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders. The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.” Ceasefire Agreement Background 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 world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize. The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Longstanding Border Dispute Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides. International news agency contributed to this report.