Former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and India, citing concerns over water supply and agricultural trade practices.
Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Mexico is failing to provide the United States with adequate water supplies, endangering livestock in Texas. He wrote, “So far, Mexico is not responding, which is very unfair to our farmers in the U.S. who deserve this badly needed water. Because of this, I have authorized the preparation of documents to impose a 5% tariff on Mexico if the water is not immediately released.”
This warning follows calls from Texas lawmakers for pressure on Mexico regarding its water obligations under a 1944 treaty. The treaty mandates Mexico to deliver water from the eastern basin of the Rio Grande to the United States in exchange for water from the western Colorado River, allowing both countries to share scarce water resources along the border.
Disputes over these allocations have recurred, particularly during periods of drought. Trump claims Mexico has failed to meet its obligations over the past five years and owes nearly one billion cubic meters of water. He demanded the release of about a quarter of this amount by December 31, with the remainder to be delivered shortly thereafter.
Furthermore, Trump indicated he might impose new tariffs on agricultural products, including Canadian fertilizers and Indian rice. This statement suggests that ongoing negotiations with two of America’s trade partners could be prolonged. Speaking at a White House event, Trump addressed concerns raised by some American farmers who argued that cheaper imports make it difficult for their products to compete in the market. He stated he would “deal with” what he described as India’s dumping of rice into the U.S. market.
Some farmers have blamed imports for declining rice prices, asserting that countries like India, Vietnam, and Thailand unfairly undercut the prices of their crops. Trump added, “They shouldn’t be dumping. I mean, I’ve heard that from others. You can’t do that.” The potential impact of these tariffs on trade relations remains to be seen. DZWatch will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
