US Pressures Thailand to Reaffirm Cambodia Ceasefire Under Tariff Threat

The United States has intensified diplomatic pressure on Thailand, warning that ongoing trade negotiations could be suspended unless Bangkok formally recommits to its ceasefire agreement with Cambodia.

According to a statement from Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) sent a letter on Friday night indicating that data-driven talks on a reciprocal trade framework could be put on hold. The pause would remain in effect “until Thailand reaffirmed its commitment” to the joint ceasefire declaration with Cambodia.

A Fragile Truce Under Strain

This push by Washington comes after renewed border tensions: Thai officials accused Cambodia of laying new landmines along their shared border — one of which reportedly injured a Thai soldier.Cambodia, for its part, denies these accusations.

Reports suggest that, in the aftermath, there have been exchanges of gunfire along the frontier.Thailand’s government, however, insisted that tariff negotiations are “separate from border issues.

Trump’s Leverage: Tariffs as Diplomacy

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire earlier this year, has defended his strategy. Addressing reporters aboard Air Force One, he said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs.”Trump framed tariff pressure not just as economic coercion, but as a means to preserve peace.

During a phone call with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Trump reportedly expressed understanding of Thailand’s concerns. Still, he reiterated that trade talks would hinge on Thailand publicly recommitting to the truce. Reuters+1

Stakes for Thai Trade

The suspension of trade talks comes at a high cost. Thai businesses have warned that failing to finalize a trade mechanism may lead to more onerous U.S. tariffs, undermining competitiveness. Nation Thailand+1 Meanwhile, Thailand maintains that national security and border stability must remain separate from economic negotiations. Thai Newsroom

A Truce Brokered but Not Stabilized

The initial ceasefire — signed in Malaysia in October and brokered by Trump — was hailed as a breakthrough. The Guardian But the deal did little to resolve the deep-rooted territorial disputes that stretch back decades, particularly over contested border maps and historic temples. The Guardian+1

For now, Washington’s hard line puts Thailand in a delicate position: balancing trade interests with diplomatic credibility — and the fragile peace on its borde