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Trump Threatens 5% Tariff on Mexico Over Rio Grande Water Dispute

The ultimatum leverages trade pressure to enforce a 1944 treaty on Rio Grande deliveries.

Overview

  • In a post on Truth Social, the president said Mexico has fallen short on treaty obligations for five years and owes the United States nearly one billion cubic meters of water.
  • He set December 31 as the deadline for Mexico to release roughly one quarter of that volume, with the remainder to follow soon after.
  • He said he has authorized preparations to impose a five percent tariff on Mexican imports if the water is not released immediately.
  • Under the 1944 treaty, Mexico delivers Rio Grande water to the United States in exchange for water from the Colorado River, a system that has strained during drought.
  • Texas members of Congress had urged stronger pressure, with the White House citing risks to Texas agriculture, and Mexico had not publicly responded in the reports reviewed.