What is the story about?
The US and Mexico have reached an agreement on sharing water, days after President Donald Trump threatened to slap additional tariffs on the country.
"The United States and Mexico reached an understanding to meet the current water obligations of American farmers and ranchers," the US Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
It said the agreement includes both the current water cycle and the deficit from the previous cycle. The two countries are expected to finalise the plan at the end of January.
Under the agreement, Mexico will be required to release 202,000 acre-feet of water starting next week.
US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement on Friday that Mexico "has delivered more water in the last year than in the previous four years combined," but fallen short of its obligations.
"Farmers across South Texas have been reeling from the uncertainty caused by the lack of water. Now they can expect the resources promised to them," Rollins added.
Trump has accused Mexico of violating a water treaty, warning that he would impose a 5 per cent tariff on the country if it fails to release more water to the US.
“Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK. Mexico still owes the U.S over 800,000 acre-feet of water for failing to comply with our Treaty over the past five years,” Trump said.
Trump said that Mexico owes over 800,000 acre-feet of water to the US under the decades-old treaty. He also set a deadline for Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet before December 31, with the remainder to follow soon after.
The dispute stems from a 1944 water treaty that requires Mexico to share water with Texas and other US border regions. The shortfalls have intensified frustration among US farmers, particularly in Texas, who say the lack of water is hurting crop production.
Trump’s threats come as his administration holds formal hearings on the future of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which he signed in his first term and which is subject to review every six years.
Industry groups and trade experts have expressed concern that Trump might pull the US out of the pact, a step some warn could undo years of tariff-free trade in major sectors like agriculture and auto manufacturing.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has not commented on the agreement, but on Tuesday expressed confidence in reaching a solution.
At the time, she also cautioned it would be physically impossible to meet the December 31 deadline because of limitations on the pumping equipment, but said: "We have the best will to deliver the amount of water that is owed."
Mexico acknowledged that it has been behind in its water deliveries to the US over the past five years, citing drought in 2022 and 2023.
With inputs from agencies
"The United States and Mexico reached an understanding to meet the current water obligations of American farmers and ranchers," the US Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
It said the agreement includes both the current water cycle and the deficit from the previous cycle. The two countries are expected to finalise the plan at the end of January.
Under the agreement, Mexico will be required to release 202,000 acre-feet of water starting next week.
US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement on Friday that Mexico "has delivered more water in the last year than in the previous four years combined," but fallen short of its obligations.
"Farmers across South Texas have been reeling from the uncertainty caused by the lack of water. Now they can expect the resources promised to them," Rollins added.
Trump has accused Mexico of violating a water treaty, warning that he would impose a 5 per cent tariff on the country if it fails to release more water to the US.
“Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK. Mexico still owes the U.S over 800,000 acre-feet of water for failing to comply with our Treaty over the past five years,” Trump said.
Trump said that Mexico owes over 800,000 acre-feet of water to the US under the decades-old treaty. He also set a deadline for Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet before December 31, with the remainder to follow soon after.
What’s the treaty?
The dispute stems from a 1944 water treaty that requires Mexico to share water with Texas and other US border regions. The shortfalls have intensified frustration among US farmers, particularly in Texas, who say the lack of water is hurting crop production.
Trump’s threats come as his administration holds formal hearings on the future of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which he signed in his first term and which is subject to review every six years.
Industry groups and trade experts have expressed concern that Trump might pull the US out of the pact, a step some warn could undo years of tariff-free trade in major sectors like agriculture and auto manufacturing.
What has Sheinbaum said?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has not commented on the agreement, but on Tuesday expressed confidence in reaching a solution.
At the time, she also cautioned it would be physically impossible to meet the December 31 deadline because of limitations on the pumping equipment, but said: "We have the best will to deliver the amount of water that is owed."
Mexico acknowledged that it has been behind in its water deliveries to the US over the past five years, citing drought in 2022 and 2023.
With inputs from agencies
