Trump threatens Mexico with sanctions, tariffs over water dispute

US President Donald Trump has threatened Mexico with sanctions and tariffs in a dispute over water sharing between the two countries, REUTERS reports .

The American leader accused Mexico of violating an 81-year-old treaty and “stealing water from Texas farmers.”

Under a 1944 treaty, Mexico must send 1.75 million acre-feet of Rio Grande water to the U.S. every five years through a network of interconnected dams and reservoirs. One acre-foot of water is enough to fill about half an Olympic-size swimming pool, the agency notes.

The current five-year cycle ends in October, but Mexico has sent less than 30% of the water it needs, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission.

"We will continue to increase pressure, including tariffs and possibly even sanctions , until Mexico complies with the terms of the treaty and gives Texas the water it deserves!" Trump said on Truth Social.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded that the country was abiding by the agreement as best it could amid a three-year drought, and Mexican officials sent their U.S. counterparts a proposal for solving Texas's water problem that includes short-term measures.

Mexican authorities regularly cite drought as an obstacle to meeting water supply commitments, the agency notes. However, in addition to drought, there are other factors such as poor infrastructure and growing local demand, the publication writes.

Mexico suffers from droughts from time to time. In June 2023, a drought in the country caused one of the ancient temples in Chiapas, which had previously been reached by boat, to emerge from under water. And in February 2024 , the country's capital, Mexico City, faced a serious crisis due to a series of problems, including drought, which left it on the verge of losing water for 22 million people.

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