Kuala Lumpur (Parliament Politics Magazine) – US President Donald Trump attended the Thailand-Cambodia peace deal signing in Malaysia during his Asia visit, strengthening diplomatic ties.
As reported by The Guardian, Thailand and Cambodia have signed an expanded ceasefire agreement, witnessed by Donald Trump, who helped end their five-day border clash in July.
How did Donald Trump broker a new peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia?
At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Donald Trump witnessed the signing of an expanded ceasefire between Cambodian leader Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, moments after arriving for the regional meeting.
Under the agreement, Thailand will release 18 Cambodian prisoners, while both countries begin withdrawing heavy weapons from the contested border zone.
The expanded ceasefire follows a truce established three months ago, when President Trump called the then-leaders to halt hostilities or risk delaying their trade negotiations with Washington.
After the ceasefire, Mr Trump signed agreements with both countries, including reciprocal trade with Cambodia and a critical minerals deal with Thailand.
He said,
“We do transactions, lots of them, with both nations as long as they live in peace,” adding, “And I really feel that when we make deals, we see two countries that we do a lot of business with… we have to use that business to make sure they don’t get into wars.”
Hun Manet thanked President Trump for his “decisive lead” and unwavering work to turn the peace agreement into reality.
He added,
“No matter how difficult and complex a dispute may be, they must be resolved by peaceful means.”
According to a White House spokesperson, President Trump will also sign a critical minerals deal with Malaysia during his visit to Kuala Lumpur.
Mr Trump has begun a five-day visit to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, his first trip to the region since January. The tour will conclude with high-level trade talks with China’s leader, Xi Jinping.
What’s included in the Thailand-Cambodia peace deal?
The Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement includes:
- Remove heavy weapons from the border region
- Conduct a shared survey of the border; Thailand to fence non-disputed sections
- Undertake joint operations to clear landmines
- Work together to combat fraud and scam networks
How much tariff did Donald Trump impose on Canada?
Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia after announcing a 10% tariff increase on Canada, responding to an Ontario government ad and further straining one of the world’s largest trade partnerships.
Mr Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, though the US president confirmed he has no plans to meet Mr Carney there.
President Trump said,
“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now.”
He stated,
“Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their ‘rescue’ on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States.”
Mr Trump added,
“Now the United States is able to defend itself against high and overbearing Canadian Tariffs (and those from the rest of the World as well!).”
What did Candace Laing say about US tariffs on Canada?
Candace Laing, president of the Canadian chamber of commerce, stated,
“Tariffs at any level remain a tax on America first, then North American competitiveness as a whole. We hope this threat of escalation can be resolved through diplomatic channels and further negotiation. CUSMA [the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement] means a North America where businesses do better. A successful free trade zone is fundamental for both our economies.”
How much is Donald Trump taxing ASEAN nations?
Donald Trump imposed tariffs on ASEAN nations, hitting key manufacturing hubs hardest.
- Brunei: 25%
- Cambodia: 19%
- Indonesia: 19%
- Laos: 40%
- Malaysia: 19%
- Myanmar: 40%
- Philippines: 19%
- Singapore: 10%
- Thailand: 19%
- Vietnam: 20%
- Timor-Leste: 10%