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The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.

Border Tensions Escalate

Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night.

He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – 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

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings 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

Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, 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 military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.