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The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.

Border Tensions Escalate

In recent days, Thai officials declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.

Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.

He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – 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 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,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Truce Deal Origins

The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.

The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, 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 dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.