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Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.

Border Tensions Escalate

Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on Friday night.

The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.

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

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.

He stated, “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

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 earn him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a ten years between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Historic Frontier Conflict

The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.