🔗 Share this article Trump Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing. Rising Border Hostilities Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion. Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes. US Trade Pressure Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on Friday night. The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement. “Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson. President’s Economic Warning Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings 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.” Ceasefire Agreement Background The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize. The worst fighting in a ten years between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced. Historic Frontier Conflict The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation. Reuters provided input for this coverage.