Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn announced he will introduce a bill to impose tariffs on Mexico, accusing the country of failing to comply with its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty.
According to the senator, his proposal, called the Water for Farmers Act, seeks to pressure the Mexican government to deliver the required volume of water to the United States, especially to farmers and ranchers in South Texas.
Cornyn pointed out that while the United States has fulfilled its water deliveries to Mexico from the Colorado River, Mexico has fallen behind on its contributions from the Rio Grande (known in the United States as the Rio Bravo).
The 1944 Water Treaty stipulates that Mexico must deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the United States every five years from the Rio Grande basin, while the United States must deliver 1.5 million acre-feet annually to Mexico from the Colorado River.
The Texas senator accused Mexico of delivering less than half of its committed water in the most recent cycle, which has negatively impacted agricultural and livestock producers in South Texas.
Cornyn stated that the lack of consistent deliveries creates uncertainty for those who depend on water for their crops and livestock, and insisted that his initiative seeks to compel Mexico to comply with the treaty.
The issue of water remains a point of tension between Mexico and the United States, especially along the Texas border, where agricultural producers have demanded a stronger response from the U.S. government.
Source: rancherita
