WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump demanded that Mexico provide more water to the United States and threatened to raise tariffs by 5% on imports if the country doesn’t open the spigot before the end of the year.
Under a 1944 treaty, Mexico must send 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the United States from the Rio Grande River through a network of interconnected dams and reservoirs every five years. Water is measured in increments needed to cover an acre of land 1 foot deep.
Trump raised the prospect of tariffs in April on social media in response to a shortfall and the State Department announced Mexico committed to providing more water.
But Trump said on social media on Dec. 8 that Texas crops and livestock are suffering from a shortfall in water. He demanded 800,000 acre-feet of water from a shortfall he said accumulated over five years, with 200,000 acre-feet needed by Dec. 31.
“The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt,” Trump wrote, threatening the 5% tariff if Mexico doesn’t comply. “Mexico has an obligation to FIX THIS NOW.”
