Tariff talk meets politics

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Sunday that Washington will not mix Thailand's suspension of its peace declaration with Cambodia with ongoing tariff negotiations, citing a personal assurance from US President Donald Trump during a recent phone call.

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Yet what appears to be happening on the ground suggests otherwise, as Thailand has reportedly already received formal notice from the US deputy trade representative that Washington intends to halt the current round of reciprocal trade talks.

This gap between private reassurance and official action puts Bangkok in an awkward diplomatic position. It raises questions about whether the government recognises the leverage Washington holds and the risks of signalling defiance it may not be ready to sustain.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura on Saturday said Thailand was "disappointed" by Washington's decision, reiterating that security issues on the Thai-Cambodian border should not influence trade negotiations. In principle, that separation makes sense. In practice, it ignores political reality.