🔗 Share this article Trump Pressures the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Truce with Tariff Warnings Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade negotiations could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion. Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured 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 letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night. He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration. “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 traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader implied that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the south-east Asian leaders. 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.” Ceasefire Agreement Background The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize. The worst fighting in a ten years between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Historic Frontier Conflict Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation. Reuters provided input for this coverage.