The clash over 800,000 acre-feet of withheld water heightens border tensions amid worsening drought conditions, while the White House moves to shield American producers from economic fallout.
President Donald Trump on Friday accused Mexico of violating the 1944 Water Treaty by withholding more than 800,000 acre-feet of river water owed to the United States — a supply Texas farmers say is crucial as drought conditions intensify across the border region.
Trump warned that Mexico must release the water “immediately” or face an additional 5% tariff on Mexican imports, escalating an already strained bilateral relationship.
Administration officials say the withheld water has placed severe pressure on U.S. agricultural producers, particularly in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, where irrigation systems are already running below required levels.
DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS RISE OVER THE 1944 TREATY
The 1944 U.S.–Mexico Water Treaty requires Mexico to deliver water from the Rio Conchos to the Rio Grande in five-year cycles. U.S. officials say Mexico’s current deficit is one of the largest in decades.
The dispute has further strained border relations already tense over migration enforcement, security operations, and economic competition.
Mexican officials have not publicly responded to the tariff threat, but past disputes have triggered high-level diplomatic negotiations and domestic political pressure inside Mexico.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES $12 BILLION AID PACKAGE FOR U.S. FARMERS
Alongside the tariff warning, Trump unveiled a $12 billion federal assistance package aimed at stabilizing American farmers facing:
- Rising operational costs
- Water shortages
- Trade uncertainty
- Supply-chain disruptions
The aid includes direct support, credit access, and emergency relief funds intended to protect producers during the water dispute and to reinforce agricultural defense policies.
White House officials say the plan ensures farmers can “maintain economic stability and competitiveness” while broader trade measures are enforced.
