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The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.

He quoted the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.

“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.

The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “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 several deals around the world he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.

Reuters contributed to this report.