President Donald Trump threatened Mexico with sanctions and tariffs in a dispute for a water treaty 81 years ago describing the distribution of water between the two countries through a network of interconnected dams and basins.
“Mexico owes Texas 1.3 million water acres-pies according to the 1944 Water Treaty, but unfortunately Mexico is violating its obligation by virtue of the treaty,” Trump published in Truth Social.
According to the 1944 Treaty, Mexico must send 1.75 million water acres-water to the United States from the Rio Bravo every five years. A water acre-fo is enough to fill approximately half of an Olympic pool.
The current five -year cycle expires in October, but Mexico has sent less than 30% of the required water, according to data from the International Limit and Water Commission.
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Mexico argues that a historical drought fed by climate change makes it impossible to fulfill its water commitments, a scenario for which the treaty offers indulgence, allowing water debt to move to the next five -year cycle.
“My secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, is defending Texas farmers, and we will continue to intensify the consequences, including tariffs and, perhaps, even sanctions, until Mexico complies with the treaty and gives Texas the water that is owed,” Trump said.
Reuters, citing Fuentes, on Wednesday that Mexican officials were working hard to prepare a plan to increase the amount of water that the country sends to the United States due to the growing concern that Trump could drag the dispute to commercial negotiations.
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
With Reuters information
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