Trump Threatens 5 Percent Tariff on Mexico

(MENAFN) The White House escalated pressure on Mexico Monday with a threatened 5% tariff unless the southern neighbor fulfills water obligations under a decades-old treaty, marking the latest flashpoint in cross-border resource disputes.

President Donald Trump delivered the ultimatum via his Truth Social platform, targeting what he characterized as persistent treaty violations affecting agricultural operations in Texas.

"Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our beautiful Texas crops and livestock," Trump stated in the social media post.

The president accused Mexico of accumulating a massive water deficit exceeding 800,000 acre-feet over a five-year period, with American requests for treaty compliance allegedly going unanswered by Mexican authorities.

According to Trump, immediate action is required before year's end, with specific volumetric demands tied to the tariff threat.

"The U.S. needs Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31st, and the rest must come soon after. As of now, Mexico is not responding, and it is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much-needed water," he wrote.

The president justified the economic pressure tactic as necessary given Mexico's alleged silence on the matter.

"That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn't released, immediately," he added.

The bilateral water agreement in question has governed shared water resources between the two nations for generations, making compliance disputes potentially significant for diplomatic relations and regional agriculture.

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