🔗 Share this article The US President Compels the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade negotiations could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart. Rising Border Hostilities Earlier this week, 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 suffered a foot amputation in the explosion. Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes. American Economic Leverage Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night. The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson. President’s Economic Warning Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” 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 promoted it as one of several deals around the world he says should earn him the prestigious peace award. The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced. Historic Frontier Conflict The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides. International news agency contributed to this report.