GOP lawmakers demand Mexico honor water treaty as Texas losses near $1B
A dozen Republican lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to leverage upcoming renegotiations of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to ensure the Mexican government complies with its obligations under the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty.
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, alongside a dozen members of Texas's congressional delegation, sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Chief Agricultural Negotiator Ambassador Julie Callahan.
They called for the inclusion of "annual, predictable, and enforceable water deliveries" and requested that the USMCA's dispute resolution mechanisms be used to address noncompliance. The lawmakers also pushed for transparent oversight and reporting to track water supplies and identify potential violations, as well as stricter enforcement measures for breaches of the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty—steps the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has deemed necessary to properly manage trade relations and ensure compliance with the agreement.
The letter argues that such enforcement mechanisms would free South Texas communities from relying on Mexico's goodwill for their prosperity.
The lawmakers emphasized that as the administration moves forward with the mandatory review of the USMCA, it is critical for the U.S. team to prioritize eliminating trade deficits with Canada and Mexico while seizing this opportunity to ensure Mexico meets its annual water delivery obligations under the 1944 treaty.
They noted that "various regions across the United States are facing worsening droughts exacerbated by Mexico's failure to comply with the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty." The agreement established specific water supply quotas each country must provide to the other, including Mexico's obligation to deliver 350,000 acre-feet of water to the U.S. annually.
As an example, they cited that in 2023 alone, South Texas suffered nearly $1 billion in economic losses due to water shortages, including the closure of the state's last sugar mill, which resulted in 500 job losses and a $100 million hit to Texas's economy. A long-term solution to this recurring issue, they argued, requires rigorous enforcement mechanisms.
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