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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 negotiations could be paused 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 Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.

He quoted the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement.

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

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Addressing reporters 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 ASEAN nation heads.

The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should win him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in July, 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 longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.

International news agency contributed to this report.