Trump threatens sanctions, tariffs on Mexico in water dispute

A drone view of El Carrizo dam, after the U.S. announced it will deny for the first time a request by Mexico to send water through a special delivery channel from the Colorado River to Tijuana, due to shortfalls in Mexico's water deliveries under the water sharing treaty signed in 1944 by both nations, in Tecate, Mexico, March 21, 2025. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes

(Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Mexico with sanctions and tariffs in a dispute over water sharing between the two countries, accusing Mexico of breaking an 81-year-old treaty and "stealing the water from Texas Farmers."

Under the 1944 treaty, Mexico must send 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the U.S. from the Rio Grande through a network of interconnected dams and reservoirs every five years. An acre-foot of water is enough to fill about half an Olympic-sized swimming pool.