President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose an additional 5 percent tariff on Mexican goods if Mexico fails to deliver water owed under a 1944 bilateral treaty.
Trump said Mexico’s repeated violations of the treaty have harmed Texas crops and livestock. In a social media post, he claimed Mexico still owes the United States more than 800,000 acre‑feet (986.4 million cubic meters) of water from the past five years.
“The U.S. needs Mexico to release 200,000 acre‑feet (246.6 million cubic meters) of water before December 31st, and the rest must come soon after,” Trump said, adding he had authorized documentation to impose tariffs “IMMEDIATELY” if the demand is not met.
Under the 1944 Water Treaty, the United States must send 1.5 million acre‑feet (1.85 billion cubic meters) annually from the Colorado River to Mexico, while Mexico is required to deliver 1.75 million acre‑feet (2.2 billion cubic meters) to the United States from the Rio Grande in five‑year cycles.
Trump previously threatened sanctions over the issue in April, before both sides announced progress later that month.