US Claims Trade Deals with Thailand, Cambodia Amid Denials

The Trump administration has announced trade agreements with Thailand and Cambodia following their ceasefire in a recent military conflict, with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirming deals on Fox News. However, officials from both Thailand and Cambodia have expressed confusion and have not yet confirmed these agreements, indicating ongoing negotiations and pending final details. President Trump used trade leverage to pressure the two countries to halt fighting, warning that trade talks would end if they did not agree to a ceasefire. Despite the announcements, Thailand's Finance Minister and a senior Cambodian trade official have indicated that no finalized deal has been communicated to them, with Thailand expecting to receive more information within a day. The potential trade agreements aim to prevent steep U.S. tariffs of up to 36 percent on exports from both countries, which are significant markets for their goods. Meanwhile, Malaysia is also seeking a favorable reciprocal tariff rate from the U.S. before new higher tariffs take effect.