President Donald Trump is threatening tariffs—and maybe even sanctions—against Mexico. He says Mexico is robbing South Texas farmers of water promised under a decades-old treaty.
On Truth Social Thursday, Trump said Mexico owes Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water. He claims they’re violating the 1944 Water Treaty.
"This is very unfair, and it is hurting South Texas Farmers very badly," Trump wrote. "Last year, the only Sugar Mill in Texas CLOSED, because Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas Farmers. Ted Cruz has been leading the fight to get South Texas the water it is owed, but Sleepy Joe refused to lift a finger to help the Farmers. THAT ENDS NOW!"
Trump vowed to stop Mexico from breaking agreements with the U.S. He said the damage to Texas farmers won’t be ignored.
"Just last month, I halted water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico complies with the 1944 Water Treaty," Trump continued. "My Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, is standing up for Texas Farmers, and we will keep escalating consequences, including TARIFFS and, maybe even SANCTIONS, until Mexico honors the Treaty, and GIVES TEXAS THE WATER THEY ARE OWED!"
Last year, Texas farm groups warned of a rough season. They blamed the standoff over water from Mexico.
The 1944 treaty has faced tension before. But drought has made things worse—this is the most severe shortage in nearly 30 years.
The treaty requires Mexico to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water over five years. That water is critical for U.S. farmers, especially in drought-hit areas.
Texas’s citrus industry depends heavily on that supply. It's worth half a billion dollars and ranks third in the U.S. behind California and Florida.
In March, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs denied Mexico’s water delivery request to Tijuana. It cited Mexico’s repeated failures under the treaty.
"Mexico's continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture – particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley," the agency posted on X. "As a result, today for the first time, the U.S. will deny Mexico's non-treaty request for a special delivery channel for Colorado River water to be delivered to Tijuana."
Sen. Ted Cruz spoke up the day before. He called the South Texas water shortage a “man-made crisis.”
Cruz said he's leading efforts to hold Mexico accountable. He shared the Bureau’s post, calling the move “excellent.”
"As I said yesterday, this option is absolutely what the Trump administration needs to pressure Mexico to fulfill its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty," Cruz wrote on X. "Texas farmers are in crisis because of Mexico's noncompliance. I will work with the Trump administration to pressure Mexico into complying and to get water to Texas farmers."