Mexico will facilitate an “immediate” delivery of water to farmers in Texas to help shore up resources amid President Trump’s tariff threats, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Friday.
“For Texas farmers who are 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,” Sheinbaum told reporters on Friday.
The U.S. and Mexico have been tangled in dispute regarding a 1944 treaty that stipulates that Mexico City send 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the U.S. from the Rio Grande River every five years. In return, the U.S. sends 1.5 million acre-feet of water every year to Mexico from the Colorado River.
Mexico missed the latest deadline, sparking tension between the North American neighbors. Trump on Thursday threatened to slap additional tariffs and potential sanctions on Mexico if the delivery of the water was not completed, stating the delay is “hurting South Texas Farmers very badly.”
“I will make sure Mexico doesn’t violate our Treaties, and doesn’t hurt our Texas Farmers,” the president said. “Just last month, I halted water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico complies with the 1944 Water Treaty.”
Shortly after, Sheinbaum admitted on social media that Mexico was unable to fulfill the commitment, pointing to the issues caused by a drought in the country. She also noted that the government sent over a proposal with the goal of finding a solution that benefits both sides.
In late March, the administration refused Mexico’s request to send over the water from the Colorado River to Tijuana — marking the first rejection since the treaty was struck over 80 years ago.
The State Department pointed to Mexico’s failure to hold up their end of the bargain as the reason.
“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,” the department said.