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The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.

Border Tensions Escalate

In recent days, Thailand announced it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.

The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson.

President’s Economic Warning

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.

The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.

The most severe clashes in a ten years between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.

Reuters provided input for this coverage.