Trump slaps Mexico with 5 percent tariff over violations of water treaty

"Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK, Trump wrote on his platform, Truth Social. Mexico still owes the U.S over 800,000 acre-feet [986.8 million cubic metres] of water for failing to comply with our Treaty over the past five years. The US president's message set a demand and a deadline. He called on Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet of water equivalent to 246 million cubic metres by December 31."

"But the punitive tariffs, Trump added, are set to begin right away. As of now, Mexico is not responding, and it is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much needed water, Trump said. That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn't released, IMMEDIATELY. The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt."

Leaders on both sides of the border face pressure from farmers and ranchers to secure more water for crops and livestock. President Donald Trump raised tariffs by 5% on imports from Mexico, accusing Mexico of failing to uphold the 1944 bilateral water treaty. Trump stated Mexico still owes the U.S. over 800,000 acre-feet of water for the past five years and demanded Mexico release 200,000 acre-feet by December 31, threatening immediate tariffs. He authorized documentation to impose the tariff immediately and warned that continued delays would further hurt U.S. farmers. The 1944 treaty requires the U.S. to send 1.5 million acre-feet annually to Mexico while Mexico permits at least 350,000 acre-feet to flow north. Extended drought has reduced flows and left parts of the Rio Grande cracked and dry.

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