Trump pressures Mexico over water deliveries, threatens new tariffs

Mexico plans to increase water deliveries to the U.S. Still, not immediately, President Claudia Sheinbaum said, as U.S. President Donald Trump renewed pressure on Mexico over transboundary water resources and threatened new trade penalties, the Associated Press reported.

Mexico has proposed sending an initial amount of water to the U.S. later this month, with additional deliveries scheduled over the next several years, Sheinbaum said. The proposal is expected to be discussed during a virtual meeting with U.S. officials.

Under the 1944 water-sharing treaty, Mexico is required to provide its northern neighbor with water from tributaries of the Rio Grande on a five-year cycle. U.S. officials argue that Mexico has fallen significantly behind schedule, leaving farmers in southern Texas short of a critical resource. Mexican authorities, however, say prolonged drought conditions and infrastructure limitations have delayed their ability to meet the treaty obligations.

Trump first raised the water issue earlier this year, directly linking water supplies to trade relations. He escalated the dispute again this week, accusing Mexico of failing to honor the agreement and warning that the U.S. could impose a 5% tariff increase on Mexican imports if water is not released immediately. Trump has demanded that a large portion of the outstanding water be delivered by the end of the year, with the rest sent soon after.

Sheinbaum said Mexico hopes to reach a compromise with Washington, as it has in past disputes, adding that the country intends to comply with «what is owed.»