President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and possibly sanctions on Mexico if it continues to deprive South Texas farmers of Rio Grande water promised by a decades-old treaty.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump claimed that Mexico owes Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water under the 1944 Water Treaty, despite Mexico’s violation of their obligation.
“This is extremely unfair, and it is severely affecting South Texas farmers,” the president wrote. “Last year, the only sugar mill in Texas closed because Mexico was stealing water from Texas farmers. Ted Cruz has been leading the fight to get South Texas the water it is owed, but Sleepy Joe has refused to help the farmers. THAT ENDS NOW!”
Trump went on to say that he will ensure that Mexico does not violate treaties with the United States and hurt Texas farmers.
“Just last month, I halted water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico complies with the 1944 Water Treaty,” he told reporters. “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!”
Last year, Texas farm groups warned of a disastrous citrus and sugar season as Mexican and US officials attempted to resolve a dispute over the 1944 water treaty, which provides critical irrigation to US farmers.
The two countries have previously clashed over the treaty, but the drought-related water shortages were the most severe in nearly 30 years.
Under the treaty designed to allocate shared water resources, Mexico is required to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande to the United States over a five-year period.
Texas’s $500 million citrus industry relies heavily on Mexican water, especially as drought conditions worsen in the region. In fact, Texas is the third-largest citrus producer after California and Florida.
Last month, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs announced that it was denying Mexico’s request to deliver water to Tijuana.
“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,” a statement from the agency read. “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.”
The day before, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, stated that South Texas was experiencing a “man-made crisis” with regard to water.
He also stated that he was leading the fight in the Senate to hold Mexico accountable and enforce the treaty to deliver water to farmers in South Texas.
He shared the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs’ post, describing the move as “excellent.”
“As I said yesterday, this option is absolutely what the Trump administration needs to pressure Mexico to fulfill its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty,” Cruz wrote in an email to X. “Texas farmers are facing a crisis as a result of Mexico’s failure to comply.” I will work with the Trump administration to put pressure on Mexico to comply and provide water to Texas farmers.”
