🔗 Share this article Trump Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast. Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes. US Trade Pressure On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening. He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement. “Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson. Trump’s Tariff Threat Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions 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.” Ceasefire Agreement Background The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize. The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Longstanding Border Dispute Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides. International news agency contributed to this report.