Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – On the final day of the public comment period for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission Chad McIntosh.
In the letter, De La Cruz urges the Administration to continue to hold the Mexican government accountable for their obligated water deliveries under the 1944 Water Treaty. Additionally, De La Cruz advocates for a long-term solution to the ongoing water crisis in South Texas – the integration of the 1944 Water Treaty into the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) framework.
Read the full letter below:
Dear Secretary Rubio, Ambassador Greer, and Commissioner McIntosh,
During the comment period for the USMCA, farmers across my district have called for the inclusion of the 1944 Water Treaty in the USMCA. As the comment period comes to an end, I am reiterating the dire need for this inclusion, as there is no enforcement mechanism for the Mexican government’s unreliable water deliveries.
This October marked the end of another five-year water cycle, with the Mexican government owing nearly one million acre-feet of water. Rather than fulfilling deliveries by the due date, my constituents and I fear the Mexican government will make the claim that there have been extraordinary circumstances leading to their inability to fulfill their water deliveries. The claim of extraordinary circumstances will give the Mexican government five additional years to deliver our water from the closing cycle, on top of a new cycle’s 1.75 million acre-feet of water.
This pattern of inconsistent and insufficient water deliveries from Mexico, particularly along the Rio Grande River, has created a significant and persistent water deficit with a direct and detrimental impact on farmers and ranchers across Texas. Therefore, to ensure compliance, the Mexican government must share a plan for how they will continue immediate deliveries to the U.S. If they do not provide the owed deliveries, there must be enforceable consequences in place.
The 1944 Water Treaty is a foundational agreement governing the allocation of shared water resources between the U.S. and Mexico, but there have been water delivery issues related to the treaty for over 80 years, and this will continue to be an issue if the treaty is not included in the USMCA. By including the treaty within the USMCA framework, the U.S. would gain access to the agreement’s robust dispute settlement mechanisms. This would provide a much-needed, effective, and enforceable means to hold the Mexican government accountable for its treaty obligations. The USMCA’s structure would allow for a binding resolution to water disputes, thereby ensuring the stability and predictability that farmers and ranchers depend on.
I respectfully request that the USTR use the upcoming joint review of the USMCA to:
Formally recognize and incorporate the terms of the 1944 Water Treaty into the USMCA.
Establish a clear link between water delivery obligations and trade commitments, making non-compliance subject to the USMCA’s enforcement and dispute resolution processes.
Prioritize this issue in discussions with our Mexican counterparts to secure reliable and consistent water deliveries.
A stable and secure water supply is essential for the economic vitality of the U.S. communities and industries that rely on transboundary rivers. I believe that integrating the 1944 Water Treaty into the USMCA is the most effective way to protect our interests and ensure a prosperous future for all stakeholders along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Thank you for your consideration of this urgent matter. I look forward to your proactive engagement during the joint review process.
Sincerely,
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz
