🔗 Share this article Trump Urges the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast. Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting. US Trade Pressure On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on Friday night. The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment 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 Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders. He stated, “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 The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award. The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Historic Frontier Conflict Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation. Reuters provided input for this coverage.