By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced this month that Mexico will provide an immediate water delivery to farmers in Texas, aiming to address the country’s shortfall under the 1944 Water Treaty.

The announcement follows a series of escalating tensions, including public criticism and tariff threats from President Donald Trump. He took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to share about the issue.

“Mexico OWES Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water under the 1944 Water Treaty, but Mexico is unfortunately violating their Treaty obligation. This is very unfair, and it is hurting South Texas Farmers very badly. Last year, the only Sugar Mill in Texas CLOSED, because Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas Farmers,” Trump said.

Trump pointed to his decision to halt water shipments to Tijuana until Mexico complies with the treaty.

“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!”

Sheinbaum did not specify how much water Mexico would send to Texas.

Under the 1944 Water Treaty between the U.S. and Mexico, Mexico is obligated to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water annually from its tributaries into the Rio Grande over a five-year cycle. However, the country has fallen behind on its commitments, contributing to worsening water shortages for Texas farmers who rely on the river for irrigation.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley has been grappling with Mexico’s deliberate refusal to deliver treaty water, leaving many irrigation districts dry and forcing farmers to abandon fields or turn to costly alternatives.

Mexico’s water debt has long been a point of friction between the two countries, and finding solutions to force Mexico to abide by the treaty is one of Texas Farm Bureau’s legislative priorities.

“We as Rio Grande Valley farmers are very excited to know that President Trump and his administration are negotiating with President Sheinbaum to get a resolution in place,” said Brian Jones, TFB District 13 state director and a Rio Grande Valley farmer. “Valley agriculture has suffered greatly over the past three years without the water owed to us. We’re hopeful that what is received is a substantial amount of water, along with an enforceable agreement for consistent future deliveries.”

The treaty’s current five-year cycle ends in October.