Mexico hopes for agreement with U.S. over water obligations

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has expressed confidence that an agreement can be reached with the United States over ongoing water delivery commitments. She made the remarks during a press briefing on Tuesday.

Sheinbaum said that an initial technical meeting between the two sides has already taken place, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for later today. Discussions are expected to focus on how Mexico will deliver water to the Rio Grande, in line with existing treaty obligations.

The president noted that Mexico has prepared several proposals aimed at meeting its outstanding commitments. Under the plan, part of the water would be supplied before December, with the remainder to be delivered over the coming years. Sheinbaum stressed that any arrangement must ensure that Mexico’s own water supply and agricultural production are not put at risk.

She also referred to technical limitations, stating that the capacity of the pipeline carrying water to the Rio Grande makes it impossible to deliver large volumes in a short period. She added that U.S. officials are aware of these constraints.

A day earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with a water-sharing treaty and warned that he could impose an additional 5% tariff on Mexican goods if water is not released by 31 December. Washington has asked Mexico to supply 200,000 acre-feet before the deadline.

Under a 1944 agreement, Mexico is required to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the U.S. every five years. The current demand includes volumes outstanding from previous years.

Mexican officials say negotiations are ongoing and are hopeful that a resolution can be reached.

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