President Trump on Thursday threatened additional tariffs and other sanctions against Mexico for a long-term water dispute in a potential escalation of tensions with one of America's biggest trading partners.
In a social media post, Trump accused Mexico of not providing 1.3 million acre feet of water, or more than 4200 billion gallons, under the 1944 treaty mediating the distribution of water from the three rivers, the Rio Grande, Colorado and Tijuana.
“Mexico has been stealing water from farmers in Texas,” Trump added, “We will continue to escalate the outcomes, including tariffs and perhaps sanctions, until Mexico respects the treaty and gives Texas the water they owe!”
In response to Trump's post, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum admitted that her country lacked its treaty commitment, saying that the long-standing drought was significantly hampered. The ability to provide the full amount of water that the agreement requires. She said her government will send a “comprehensive proposal” to US diplomats to deliver water to Texas and find a satisfactory solution for both countries.
“Mexico is abiding in the range of water availability,” she wrote on social media. “Like any other issues, I'm sure we'll get an agreement.”
Mexico hit a reconciliatory tone in negotiations with the Trump administration, prioritizing dialogue against the threat and a cool approach to retaliation measures. The strategy appears to have given Shainbaum some respect from Trump.
There has been years of tensions over water between Mexico and the United States. In 2020, these tensions exploded into violence, with Mexican farmers taking control of dams in border areas to cut off water supply to the United States.
The rising temperatures and long droughts made the water scarce, making water from the Mexico River and the US more valuable.
According to data provided by the International Boundary Water Commission, which mediates water disputes between the two countries, Mexico is well below its commitment to the Water Supply Convention over the past five years. Between October 2020 and October 2024, Mexico was slightly over 400,000 acres of water, much less than about 1.4 million acre feet under the provisions of the treaty. Since then, debt has been on the rise.
