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

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thailand announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.

Following this, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.

He quoted the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.

President’s Economic Warning

Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader implied 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,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Truce Deal Origins

Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes 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 dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.

International news agency contributed to this report.