Mexico plans to deliver water to farmers in drought-stricken Texas, following President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and sanctions for not providing water from the Rio Grande River as promised under a 1944 treaty.
The United States’ southern neighbor reportedly owes 1.3 million acre-feet of water after sending only 512,604 acre-feet, which is just 30% of the required amount every five years.
In a statement made on Friday, Sheinbaum announced that for Texas farmers requesting water, there will be an immediate delivery of a certain number of millions of cubic meters that can be provided according to the water availability in the Rio Grande.
This issue has been brewing since March, and Trump brought attention to it on Thursday.
“This is very unfair, and it is hurting South Texas Farmers very badly,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Last year, the only Sugar Mill in Texas CLOSED, because Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas Farmers.
Ted Cruz has been leading the fight to get South Texas the water it is owed, but Sleepy Joe refused to lift a finger to help the Farmers.
THAT ENDS NOW!
I will make sure Mexico doesn’t violate our Treaties, and doesn’t hurt our Texas Farmers.
Just last month, I halted water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico complies with the 1944 Water Treaty.
My Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, is standing up for Texas Farmers, and we will keep escalating consequences, including TARIFFS and, maybe even SANCTIONS, until Mexico honors the Treaty, and GIVES TEXAS THE WATER THEY ARE OWED!” Trump wrote.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, reposted Trump’s post and spoke about the issue on his podcast on Friday.
According to the 1944 treaty, Mexico is required to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande every five years.
The latest cycle ended in October.
In return, the United States is obligated to send 1.5 million acre-feet of water yearly to Mexico from the Colorado River.
It’s important to note that an acre-foot of water is approximately 325,000 gallons, which is equivalent to flooding an acre of land with water one foot deep.
On Thursday, Sheinbaum also communicated in Spanish on X that a comprehensive proposal has already been submitted to the undersecretary of the U.S. Department of State.
“This has been three years of drought, and to the extent water is available, Mexico has been complying,” she stated.
“The International Boundary and Water Commission has continued its work to identify mutually beneficial solutions… I am confident that, as with other issues, an agreement will be reached.”
The Rio Grande River stretches 1,990 miles and supplies water to approximately 6 million people, with nearly 80% of its water used for irrigation in the U.S. and Mexico, according to the Rio Grande International Study Center.
The river is recognized as one of the 10 Most Endangered Rivers in the World by the World Wildlife Fund.
Flowing through Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, the Rio Grande basin encompasses several Mexican states, including Durango, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas.
Texas, which relies heavily on water for farming, has been severely affected by the ongoing drought.
Notably, Texas ranks third in the nation for citrus production, following California and Florida.
Earlier in March, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs denied a request from Mexico to deliver water to Tijuana, a division of the U.S. Department of State.
The Bureau stated, “Mexico’s continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture — particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley.
As a result, today for the first time, the U.S. will deny Mexico’s non-treaty request for a special delivery channel for Colorado River water to be delivered to Tijuana.”
Sen. Ted Cruz praised the decision, labeling the water situation a “man-made crisis.”
“This option is absolutely what the Trump administration needs to pressure Mexico to fulfill its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty,” Cruz expressed on X.
“Texas farmers are in crisis because of Mexico’s noncompliance.
I will work with the Trump administration to pressure Mexico into complying and to get water to Texas farmers.”
On March 19, he gathered farmers and ranchers from the Rio Grande Valley with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to address their concerns.
“Their situation is dire,” he posted on X.
“Mexico is refusing to comply with its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty to provide water from the Rio Grande to the US, even while we go above and beyond our own obligations to give Mexico water.
The effects on Texas have been catastrophic.”
Cruz plans to introduce legislation in the Senate aimed at imposing sanctions on Mexico and withholding aid over its noncompliance, a method he previously employed during the last Congress.
Last month, Rollins visited the Rio Grande Valley and revealed a $280 million federal block grant to assist those suffering from water shortages.
Furthermore, Rollins added that Chihuahua’s tributaries feed the Rio Grande as it moves toward South Texas, emphasizing the need for improved irrigation efficiency.
“Chihuahua consumes a lot of water,” she noted at a news conference.
“We need to make irrigation more efficient so that not so much water is used.
In fact, they have wells that are unregulated.”
Additionally, Mexico has faced tariffs on products exported to the United States, similar to other countries worldwide.
Initially, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on all exports with exceptions for those adhering to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
These tariffs were later targeted more narrowly to steel, aluminum, and autos manufactured in Mexico.
Despite not imposing a 10% baseline like many other U.S. trading partners, the tariffs have had significant effects on trade.
In her comments on Friday, Sheinbaum remarked, “I think there has been a respectful relationship and that has allowed us to have good communication with the United States and Trump.
We always demand respect and offer respect to the United States, and that has allowed for dialogue.”
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