<\/p>\n
Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 5% tariff on Mexico if it does not immediately provide additional water to help US farmers, accusing the country of violating a treaty that outlines water-sharing between the neighbors.<\/p>\n
Under the treaty, which dates back to 1944, Mexico<\/a> must send 1.75m acre-feet of water to the US from the Rio Grande through a network of interconnected dams and reservoirs every five years. The agreement also stipulates that the United States must annually allocate 1.5m acre-feet of water<\/a> from the Colorado River to Mexico.<\/p>\n The water from the Rio Grande is used to support agriculture in Texas and other US border states.<\/p>\n In a post on Truth Social on Monday, the president said that Mexico<\/a> \u201cowes\u201d the US 800,000 acre-feet of water due to violations of the treaty over the past five years.<\/p>\n He demanded Mexico release 200,000 acre-feet of water before 31 December, and more \u201csoon after\u201d.<\/p>\n The lack of water was hurting crops and livestock in Texas, Trump said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs of now, Mexico is not responding, and it is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much needed water,\u201d Trump added. \u201cThat is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn\u2019t released, IMMEDIATELY.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Mexico\u2019s economy ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n In April, US agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins said that Mexico had agreed to increase its water shipments to Texas to help make up a shortfall under the 1944 treaty.<\/p>\n Mexico has argued that it is under drought conditions that have strained the country\u2019s water resources. While climate-crisis induced drought plays a large role in the Rio Grande\u2019s depletion, overconsumption and mismanagement have also contributed to its current state. A recent World Wildlife Study<\/a> found that 52% of the water consumed from the Rio Grande is unsustainable, meaning that it is contributing to overall depletion of reservoirs, aquifers and the river itself.<\/p>\n The study also found that water shortages have led to the loss of 18% of farmland in the river\u2019s headwaters in Colorado, 36% along the Rio Grande in New Mexico, and 49% in the Pecos River tributary in New Mexico and Texas.<\/p>\n