Mexico and US reach deal on Rio Grande water sharing

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

April 28, 2025, 6:12 PM


MEXICO CITY -- Mexico and the United States said Monday they had reached an agreement that involves Mexico immediately sending more water from their shared Rio Grande basin to Texas farmers after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and sanctions earlier this month.

“Mexico has committed to make an immediate transfer of water from international reservoirs and increase the U.S. share of the flow in six of Mexico’s Rio Grande tributaries through the end of the current five-year water cycle,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

Bruce thanked Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum for her involvement in facilitating cross-border cooperation. The countries’ joint statement Monday, while lacking specific details of the agreement, said both countries had agreed that the 1944 treaty regulating how the water is shared was still beneficial for both countries and not in need of renegotiation.

Under the treaty, Mexico must deliver 1,750,000 acre-feet of water to the U.S. from six tributaries every five years, or an average of 350,000 every year. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover 1 acre of land to a depth of 1 foot. But Mexico is at a high risk of not meeting that deadline as the end of the current cycle approaches in October.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/mexico-us-reach-deal-rio-grande-water-sharing-121257398

[BidenRocks]

1. ... after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and sanctions earlier this month.

I don't buy it. Mexico doesn't cave to chump.
Something smells here.
Maybe Mexico wants more Colorado River water to flow into the Gulf of California.
It currently does not.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. There was an agreement

that I expect was tweaked after 45 whined about the situation, that in reality, was a direct after-effect of climate change - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143438775

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in response, said on X that Mexico has been complying with the treaty "to the extent water is available" amid three years of drought.

Mexico sent a proposal to U.S. officials on Wednesday, Sheinbaum said, to address the water supply to Texas, which includes short-term actions. Sheinbaum said she instructed her environment, agriculture and foreign ministers to immediately contact U.S. officials. "I am sure, as on other issues, an agreement will be reached," Sheinbaum said.

Mexican officials have routinely pointed to a historic drought fueled by climate change as a barrier to fulfilling water commitments, a scenario for which the treaty offers leniency, allowing the water debt to be rolled over to the next five-year cycle.

[WSHazel]

4. It is a stupid negotiating strategy by Trump

You should generally not link two separate negotiations, especially one where Mexico was already obligated to supply something, in this case water. By tying the water and tariff negotiations together, Trump has given Mexico additional leverage in the tariff discussions.

Art of the Deal is basically a book of how not to negotiate.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. OK, more water for farmers in Texas.

Now who's going to harvest the produce as many "immigrant" workers have self-deported?

[republianmushroom]

5. Those unemployed truck drivers due to the tariffs,

that speak English.

[maxsolomon]

6. The Rio Grande IS the border.

Mexico has to send water from MEXICAN tributaries to Texas? Texan tributaries? Mexico has a few reservoirs on tributaries, so I guess those are the ones mentioned...

It doesn't seem like the Rio Grande has enough water in it to meet the treaties, period. It's a friggin' DESERT upstream in BBNP.