US, Mexico secure landmark water deal for South Texas growers

A new United States-Mexico water deal under the 1944 Treaty aims to bring greater certainty to water deliveries for South Texas agriculture during the ongoing drought in the Rio Grande basin. Mexico is committing to minimum annual volumes and a plan to repay prior shortfalls.

US and Mexican officials announced the understanding on January 31, following talks between President Donald Trump and its Mexican counterpart, Claudia Sheinbaum. The agreement strengthens implementation of the treaty and sets technical and political mechanisms to manage scarce water supplies while prioritizing human consumption and agricultural production.

“Water is the lifeblood of the farmers and ranchers who power South Texas’s agricultural economy,” says US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins in an official statement. “This understanding between our countries is a direct result of President Trump’s determination to secure fair, practical deals that deliver for American agriculture”.

Renewed water deal: Securing long-term availability

Mexico says the agreement aligns with the 1944 Water Deal Treaty and reflects sustained technical and political work between the two countries amid extreme droughts in the basin. The plan establishes a path for orderly water management, shared responsibility, and more predictable planning, incorporating infrastructure and long-term adaptation actions.

“Under President Trump’s leadership and direction, the Department of State, Department of Agriculture, and the US International Boundary and Water Commission have worked to secure Mexico’s commitment to meet its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty, while also providing a plan to eliminate the deficit from the prior cycle,” says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

The Central American country confirmed its willingness to guarantee the minimum annual delivery agreed to by both nations in accordance with hydrological conditions. The Mexican government also reaffirmed its commitment to the water deal as an instrument to safeguard national interests and protect productive and agricultural activities.

“This is another example of how the Trump Administration continues to produce benefits for the American people on issues ranging from illegal immigration, countering cartels, and modernizing trade, as well as securing water for our farmers,” Rubio adds.

To support implementation, both countries agreed to hold monthly meetings to monitor deliveries and present future deficits. The USDA, Department of State, and other federal agencies will continue coordinating as the agreement moves forward.

*Photos are referential.

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