Mexico has recently begun releasing some water from its largest reservoirs to catch up on obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty with America, but only after sustained pressure and tariff threats from the Trump administration.
As previously covered by DX, delayed water deliveries from Mexico have put pressure on the American agriculture industry and hit home, directly impacting farmers in Texas.
The original treaty mandates that Mexico deliver an average of 1.75 billion cubic meters of water – equivalent to approximately 1.4 million acre-feet of water – to the U.S. every five years via the Rio Grande’s tributaries. However, Mexico has consistently fallen short of meeting these requirements, prompting concerns from political leaders in America and the farmers who underpin America’s food supply.
In early December, President Trump publicly said that Mexico still owed America about 800,000 acre-feet of water.
Trump also stated that the water shortfall was “very unfair” to American farmers, especially in Texas, and threatened a 5% tariff on Mexican imports starting in January if roughly 200 million cubic meters were not delivered by December 31, per Fox News.
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Cornyn (R-TX) have also pushed for additional pressure to deliver more water to American farmers over the last year, warning that Mexico was “significantly behind” on deliveries.
Both senators have urged the U.S. State Department in November 2024 to exert pressure on Mexico to clear its water debt, introducing the Ensuring Predictable and Reliable Water Deliveries Act. The bill aims to impose penalties if Mexico’s water treaty commitments remain late.
The U.S. State Department has called on Mexico to provide “the maximum possible amount” of water before the next contractual cycle ends. At the same time, the Department of Agriculture has highlighted the treaty’s clear importance for farmers grappling with droughts and water shortages.
On December 22, Mexican authorities opened the floodgates at the El Cuchillo-Solidaridad Dam in Nuevo León, a key water source for the Monterrey area that feeds into the San Juan River, a primary Rio Grande tributary, per a report from Texas Border Business.
Mexican officials also said that approximately 150 million cubic meters – about 122,000 acre-feet, or 11% of the dam’s capacity – would be released.
In response to the dam release, local Mexican governments issued safety alerts to civilians living along riverways that may rise after the dam is opened to release water to the U.S.
Authorities in the Nuevo León area have advised residents to avoid the river’s edges due to flood threats. Additionally, those in the General Bravo area warned of an impending floodgate opening that could cause an overnight surge of water in the San Juan River.
Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Juan Ramon de la Fuente, confirmed that the water deliveries were underway but did not detail the total volume or timeline.
