President Donald Trump's administration has rolled back a mining moratorium affecting lands near the Boundary Waters watershed, a move that drains into Canadian waters. This action raises questions about potential pressure campaigns on broader U.S.-Canada water agreements.

Trump Administration Alters Boundary Waters Mining Rules

In late April, President Trump signed House Joint Resolution 140 into law. This legislation reverses a Biden-era moratorium on over 200,000 acres of federal land in Minnesota. The land is situated near the Boundary Waters watershed, which flows into Canadian territory.

Proponents of the rollback advocate for mineral and geothermal energy development in the region. Critics, however, express concerns that mining activities could compromise existing water protections for the watershed.

Boundary Waters Treaty Under Scrutiny

While this specific action involves a localized mining ban, scholars of U.S.-Canada boundary waters treaties suggest it is unlikely President Trump intends to abrogate foundational agreements. Nonetheless, the issue of boundary waters has surfaced as a point of contention previously.

Reports indicate that in 2025, President Trump reportedly threatened to withdraw from the 1908 treaty that defines the U.S.-Canada border. He also expressed a desire to renegotiate how the countries share lakes and rivers, a system largely governed by the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty (BWT).

Water Agreements as Bargaining Chips

Daniel Macfarlane, a professor at Western Michigan University, suggests that threatening existing water treaties could serve as a bargaining tactic for President Trump in other negotiations. "He likes to make threats, like 'I'll end the Boundary Waters Treaty' that he perceives as important to Canadians," Macfarlane stated. "It's just another weapon in his 'art of the deal' when it comes to maybe a trade agreement or something."

However, Macfarlane noted that there is no clear indication the president views these treaties as obstacles to his primary policy objectives, unlike his approach to Canadian imports. "It's not bugging him too much, I don't think, because it's not blocking the things he wants to happen, as we see with him approving the mining," he added.

Any attempt by the U.S. to withdraw from the Boundary Waters Treaty would carry significant political and diplomatic consequences. Such a move could also jeopardize interconnected agreements, including the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, posing risks to both nations.