WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump demanded that Mexico provide more water to the United States and threatened to raise tariffs by 5% on imports if the country doesn’t open the spigot before the end of the year.

Under a 1944 treaty, Mexico must send 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the United States from the Rio Grande River through a network of interconnected dams and reservoirs every five years. Water is measured in increments needed to cover an acre of land 1 foot deep.

Trump raised the prospect of tariffs in April on social media in response to a shortfall and the State Department announced Mexico committed to providing more water.

But Trump said on social media on Dec. 8 that Texas crops and livestock are suffering from a shortfall in water. He demanded 800,000 acre-feet of water from a shortfall he said accumulated over five years, with 200,000 acre-feet needed by Dec. 31.

“The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt,” Trump wrote, threatening the 5% tariff if Mexico doesn’t comply. “Mexico has an obligation to FIX THIS NOW.”

Mexico has argued that it is under drought conditions that have strained the country's water resources.

The water dispute and tariff threat come at a time when a 2020 trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada is set to expire in July. Trade negotiations are continuing, but Trump has said he might not renew the agreement with the country’s two largest trading partners because of what he deems their unfair practices.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump demands more water from Mexico under threat of 5% higher tariffs

Reporting by Bart Jansen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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