By Devjyot Ghoshal

BANGKOK, Dec 10 (Reuters) – In July, it took a call from U.S. President Donald Trump and the threat of crushing tariffs to halt five days of fierce fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.

This week, border clashes reignited, ending the Trump-backed ceasefire. Thailand has drawn a clear line: tariffs must not be ‍used to force peace with Cambodia.

“Bangkok’s resistance is a test for Trump’s tariff play, but the tariff has always been a blunt instrument,” said Chong Ja Ian, a political science professor at the National University of Singapore.

“Whether it can get a lasting ceasefire over longstanding and deep-seated animosities has been and is doubtful.”

Trump, in his quest for the Nobel Peace Prize, has sought to mediate in a number of conflicts in recent months, wit

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