Overview
- President Donald Trump said he authorized paperwork to impose a 5% tariff unless Mexico immediately releases 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31.
- Trump asserted Mexico owes the United States more than 800,000 acre-feet of accumulated deliveries, reported as roughly 986.4 million cubic meters over five years.
- He made the threat after meeting at the White House with southern Texas agricultural leaders along with Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz.
- The administration announced a $12 billion USDA aid package for farmers, with USDA official Brooke Rollins saying payments are set to begin February 28, 2026 and amounts will be set by year-end.
- Mexico’s water agency Conagua has acknowledged difficulties meeting its roughly 2,160–2,185 million cubic meters per five-year obligation due to recent extreme drought.