President Donald Trump is threatening Mexico with tariffs and sanctions if Mexico doesn’t deliver the water it owes the U.S. under a 1944 treaty between the two countries. In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her country will send water to Texas farmers immediately.
The 81-year-old treaty requires the U.S. to send Mexico water from the Colorado River and for Mexico to send the U.S. water from the Rio Grande.
But Mexico has for years fallen behind on the amount of water it owes the U.S. under the treaty. Trump said on social media Thursday that if Mexico continues to be delinquent on its deliveries, the U.S. will “keep escalating consequences,” including tariffs and possibly sanctions.
Sheinbaum said in response that Mexico has been complying with the treaty to the extent that water is available — but the country has experienced years of drought.
“It has to do with the availability of water,” Sheinbaum said.
She told reporters Friday that her government is making an immediate water delivery to Texas and has reached out to U.S. officials to come to an agreement moving forward.
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