Trump Threatens Tariffs on Mexico Over Water Treaty Violations

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and possibly sanctions on Mexico if it continues to fail to deliver water to South Texas farmers as per a longstanding treaty.

In a recent post on Truth Social, President Trump highlighted the severe impact of Mexico’s non-compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty on South Texas agriculture. According to Trump, Mexico owes Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water, crucial for the region’s farmers. The president pointed out the closure of Texas’s only sugar mill last year as a direct result of Mexico’s failure to supply the promised water, exacerbating the local farming crisis.

Trump’s message underscored his administration’s commitment to resolving the issue, stating intentions to escalate measures if necessary. He mentioned that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is actively advocating for Texas farmers, and that the U.S. had already halted water shipments to Tijuana as leverage against Mexico’s non-compliance.

The dispute over the water treaty has been ongoing, with severe drought conditions in the region making the situation more critical. Texas’s citrus industry, valued at half a billion dollars, relies heavily on the water from Mexico. The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs recently denied a request from Mexico for a special water delivery to Tijuana, marking a significant move in the ongoing negotiations.

Senator Ted Cruz has been vocal about the issue, describing the water shortage in South Texas as a ‘man-made crisis’ and leading efforts in the Senate to hold Mexico accountable. Cruz praised the Trump administration’s decision to deny Mexico’s water request, seeing it as a necessary step to pressure Mexico into fulfilling its treaty obligations.

As tensions continue between the U.S. and Mexico over the water treaty, the situation remains a critical issue for Texas farmers and a point of contention in U.S.-Mexico relations.