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The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.

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

“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.

President’s Economic Warning

Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump suggested 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,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.

The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.