‘Very unfair’: Trump threatens extra 5% tariff on Mexico over water dispute | Trump tariffs

Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 5 percent tariff on Mexico if it does not immediately provide additional water to help U.S. farmers, accusing it of violating an agreement that determines water sharing between neighbors.

Under the agreement, Mexico must send 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande to the United States through a network of interconnected dams and reservoirs every five years.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said Mexico “owes” the United States 800,000 acre-feet of water for violations of the agreement over the past five years.

He demanded that Mexico release 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31 and more “soon after.”

Trump said the lack of water was harming crops and animals in Texas.

“As of now, Mexico is not responding and this is very unfair to our American Farmers who deserve much needed water,” Trump added. “Therefore, I have the authority to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water is not released IMMEDIATELY.”

A spokesman for Mexico’s economy ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In April, U.S. agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins said Mexico had agreed to increase water shipments to Texas to help cover the shortfall under the 1944 treaty.

Mexico argued that the country was under drought conditions that strained its water resources.