Donald Trump issues new threat to Mexico

President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on Mexico on Monday, accusing the country of violating a decades-old water treaty and warning he would impose a 5 percent levy unless it quickly releases water he said is owed to the United States and needed by Texas farmers.

In a post to Truth Social, Trump said in part, “Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK. Mexico still owes the U.S over 800,000 acre-feet of water for failing to comply with our Treaty over the past five years.”

“The U.S needs Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31st, and the rest must come soon after. As of now, Mexico is not responding, and it is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much-needed water,” he continued, adding, “That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn’t released, IMMEDIATELY. The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt. Mexico has an obligation to FIX THIS NOW.” Thank you for your attention to this matter!””

Why It Matters
Trump’s latest threats toward Mexico have heightened tensions between the two neighboring countries, raising concerns over trade stability, agricultural impacts in the United States, and the evolving security dynamic at the border.

Trump’s warning of a new 5 percent tariff on Mexican goods—contingent on the release of water to Texas under a longstanding treaty—coincides with ongoing disputes over security and his administration’s aggressive posture against Latin American drug cartels.

What To Know
President Trump posted on Truth Social Monday that Mexico was “seriously hurting our beautiful Texas crops and livestock” by failing to comply with a comprehensive water-sharing treaty.

In the post, Trump stated that Mexico owed the United States over 800,000 acre-feet of water due to years of treaty violations and set a deadline for Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet before December 31 with the remainder to follow soon after.

If Mexico failed to comply, Trump indicated he had “authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn’t released, IMMEDIATELY.”

The dispute centers on a 1944 water treaty obligating Mexico to share water with Texas and other U.S. border regions. The issue has led to increased frustration among U.S. farmers, especially in Texas, who have argued that the lack of water is harming agricultural productivity.

Trump’s threats have come as his administration began formal hearings on the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), signed during his first term and up for review every six years.
Industry representatives and trade experts voiced anxiety over the possibility that Trump might withdraw from the agreement, a move that some fear could reverse years of tariff-free trade in key sectors such as agriculture and automobile manufacturing.
Trump has threatened not only economic penalties but also potential military action against drug cartels operating in Mexico

He has repeatedly suggested that the U.S. could expand its ongoing campaign against alleged drug-trafficking operations—recently targeting boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific—to include strikes on land-based cartel targets within Mexico.

During an Oval Office appearance on November 17, 2025, Trump said, “Would I want strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? OK with me, whatever we have to do to stop drugs” and did not rule out unilateral strikes, stating, “I wouldn’t answer that question. I’ve been speaking to Mexico. They know how I stand.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has categorically rejected the possibility of U.S. military intervention, instead advocating for cooperation and intelligence-sharing while maintaining Mexico’s sovereignty.

What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, via Truth Social, December 8, 2025: “Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK. Mexico still owes the U.S over 800,000 acre-feet of water for failing to comply with our Treaty over the past five years. …That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn’t released, IMMEDIATELY.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a press briefing in November: “He (Trump) has suggested it on various occasions or he has said, ‘we offer you a United States military intervention in Mexico, whatever you need to fight the criminal groups. But I have told him on every occasion that we can collaborate, that they can help us with information they have, but that we operate in our territory, that we do not accept any intervention by a foreign government.”

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office in November: “Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It’s OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs. I looked at Mexico City over the weekend, there’s some big problems over there.”

What Happens Next
Officials are expected to continue negotiations over the water treaty and USMCA review in the coming months, with Mexican authorities standing firm against any foreign military intervention.

The Trump administration is weighing further economic measures if Mexico fails to meet U.S. demands regarding water release.

Farmers and business groups are lobbying both governments to resolve these disputes to avoid disruptions.

In parallel, congressional scrutiny over the legality and impact of the administration’s military activities in Latin America remains active, while Mexican leaders reassert their commitment to national sovereignty and further cooperation on shared border issues.

Source: Newsweek.com