🔗 Share this article The US President Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with Trade Penalties Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing. Rising Border Hostilities Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion. Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes. US Trade Pressure On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening. He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson. Trump’s Tariff Threat Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader implied 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,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.” Ceasefire Agreement Background Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the prestigious peace award. The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Historic Frontier Conflict Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation. International news agency contributed to this report.