🔗 Share this article The US President Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Truce with Tariff Warnings Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from collapsing. Rising Border Hostilities In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion. Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting. US Trade Pressure On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night. He quoted the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative. Trump’s Tariff Threat Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads. The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.” Truce Deal Origins Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he says should earn him the prestigious peace award. The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Historic Frontier Conflict The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides. Reuters provided input for this coverage.