🔗 Share this article The US President Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’ Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion. Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire 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 informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on Friday night. He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration. “Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson. President’s Economic Warning Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, 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,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.” Ceasefire Agreement Background Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize. 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. Longstanding Border Dispute The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation. Reuters contributed to this report.