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President Donald Trump threatened Mexico on Thursday with potential tariffs and sanctions over claims that the nation is stealing water from South Texas farmers.
Trump based his explanation on a 1944 water treaty, as noted in his Truth Social post.
“Mexico OWES Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water under the 1944 Water Treaty, but Mexico is unfortunately violating their Treaty obligation. This is very unfair, and it is hurting South Texas Farmers very badly,” Trump wrote.
“Last year, the only Sugar Mill in Texas CLOSED, because Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas Farmers. Ted Cruz has been leading the fight to get South Texas the water it is owed, but Sleepy Joe refused to lift a finger to help the Farmers,” he continued.
The president vowed to stop Mexico from breaking treaties with the U.S. and to protect Texas farmers.
“THAT ENDS NOW! I will make sure Mexico doesn’t violate our Treaties, and doesn’t hurt our Texas Farmers. Just last month, I halted water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico complies with the 1944 Water Treaty,” Trump wrote in the post.
He noted that 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!”
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz addressed the concern in a post to X last month, calling the water issue a “man-made crisis.”
“[T]his option is absolutely what the Trump administration needs to pressure Mexico to fulfill its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. Texas farmers are in crisis because of Mexico’s noncompliance. I will work with the Trump administration to pressure Mexico into complying and to get water to Texas farmers,” Cruz wrote.
Cruz’s words were in response to a decision by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs denying “Mexico’s non-treaty request for a special delivery channel for Colorado River water to be delivered to Tijuana.”