WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Apr 11) threatened Mexico with “escalating penalties” on commerce until it gives extra water to Texas underneath a contentious decades-old treaty.
“Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas Farmers” and “final yr the one Sugar Mill in Texas closed” for lack of water, Trump posted to his Fact Social platform.
He claimed that Mexico was violating a 1944 pact underneath which the US shares water from the Colorado River in alternate for flows from the Rio Grande, which varieties a part of the border between the 2 nations.
“We are going to maintain escalating penalties, together with TARIFFS and, possibly even SANCTIONS, till Mexico honors the Treaty,” Trump wrote.
The present treaty cycle expires in October and Mexico owes america greater than 1.55 billion cubic meters, in accordance with the 2 nations’ boundary and water fee.
Washington mentioned on Mar 20 that it had rejected a request by Mexico for particular supply of water for the primary time in response.
Mexico says its lagging deliveries are attributable to 20 years of drought within the Rio Grande basin.
However US farmers and lawmakers complain that their southern neighbor has waited till the top of every five-year supply cycle and has been developing brief within the newest interval.
