The US President Pressures the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Tariff Warnings
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
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 Friday night.
He quoted the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump suggested 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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
