Trump threatens 5% tariff on Mexico over delayed water delivery under bilateral treaty

Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will impose a 5% tariff on Mexico if it does not immediately release water owed under a long-standing bilateral treaty, which is a dispute he says is hurting Texas agriculture.

In a post that he made on Truth Social in the early hours of Tuesday, Trump accused Mexico of failing to meet its treaty commitments for the past five years.

He said the shortfall now exceeds “800,000 acre-feet of water,” describing the lapse as a direct blow to “our beautiful Texas crops and livestock”.

The US President said that America requires Mexico to deliver 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31, with the remaining volume to follow soon after.

Trump further said that Mexico has not responded to recent U.S. requests. “It is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much-needed water,” he said.

Trump, in his post, further announced that he has approved the paperwork necessary to impose tariffs if the water is not delivered.

“That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn’t released, IMMEDIATELY,” he said, adding that delays continue to damage American producers. “The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt. Mexico has an obligation to FIX THIS NOW," he said.