Trump Calls on Mexico to Uphold Water Treaty or Risk Potential Sanctions and Increased Tariffs
The president of Mexico expressed confidence in reaching an agreement, mentioning the ongoing three-year drought.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump issued a warning to Mexico regarding potential sanctions and increased tariffs unless it supplies water to Texas as stipulated by a 1944 water-sharing treaty.
Additionally, the treaty obligates the United States to deliver 1.5 million acre-feet of water from the Colorado River to Tijuana, Mexico, annually.
He emphasized that Mexico’s neglect in meeting its treaty obligations severely impacts Texas farmers, pointing to the closure of Texas’s only sugar mill last year due to water shortages.
To remedy this situation, Trump announced he had instructed the government to suspend water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico adheres to the treaty.
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“My Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, is advocating for Texas farmers, and we will continue to escalate consequences, including TARIFFS and possibly even SANCTIONS, until Mexico upholds the Treaty and PROVIDES TEXAS WITH THE WATER THEY ARE DUE!” Trump asserted.
The president did not clarify the exact sanctions or additional tariffs he intends to implement.
Sheinbaum explained that recent drought conditions have affected Mexico’s capacity to fulfill its water delivery obligations.
She also mentioned that Mexico has submitted a plan that includes “short-term actions” aimed at settling the water-sharing disagreement with the United States.
“We have been experiencing a three-year drought, and as far as the available water permits, Mexico has been adhering [to the treaty],” Sheinbaum shared on social media. “I am optimistic that, similar to our approach to other matters, we will reach an agreement.”
Texas Lawmakers
Last year, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would require the Secretary of State to report to Congress yearly on Mexico’s compliance with its water-sharing treaty responsibilities.
The amendment stipulates actions to be taken if Mexico fails to deliver the required water, including halting USAID assistance to Mexico’s private sector, limiting foreign aid to Mexico to 85 percent of appropriated levels, allowing exceptions only for anti-opioid and synthetic drug initiatives, and preventing U.S. Trade and Development Agency funds from going to Mexican grantees.
Cruz mentioned last month that Mexico’s noncompliance has resulted in “catastrophic” impacts on Texas, and he is collaborating with the Trump administration to enforce “consequences” on Mexico.
This occurs as the U.S. government previously rejected a non-treaty request from Mexico for a specialized delivery route for Colorado River water to Tijuana, which would have marked the first such action in over 80 years since the signing of the treaty.
Reuters contributed to this report.
