South Texas leaders in Mexico to discuss water debt

TEXAS — A delegation of local South Texas leaders led by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, met with Mexico’s foreign minister in Mexico City as part of ongoing meetings that continue over a number of issues affecting U.S. border communities, including Mexico’s water debt to the United States.

On Wednesday, was told that they discussed the 1944 Treaty between the United States and Mexico and the implementation of the new United States, Mexico, Canada trade agreement that began on July 1, but no specifics on the talks were released.

Mexico and the United States have been at odds over past-due water that Mexico owes the United States under the international water treaty, which is governed under the International Boundary and Water Commission. Because Mexico defaulted in its water payments during the previous five-year water cycle, it cannot default on its payments this current water cycle, which ends in 14 days, according to the treaty.

In July, IBWC U.S. Commissioner Jayne Harkins took the unusual step of publicly demanding that Mexico quickly make good on its water debt, saying Mexico must “take immediate action to deliver Rio Grande water to the United States to comply with the bilateral 1944 Water Treaty.”

Source: Border Report