Via Middle East Eye

A US lawmaker from the state of Arizona has introduced legislation in Congress that would impose a 300 percent tax on the sale of water-intensive crops grown by foreign companies in the state, in a bid to curb the extensive use of water in the drought-stricken state.

The bill, titled the Domestic Water Protection Act of 2023, was introduced by Ruben Gallego, a Democrat who in a press release announcing the measure directly called out Saudi Arabia.

"Arizona's water and crops belong in Arizona, not Saudi Arabia," Gallego said in his statement. "No longer should foreign governments and companies be given sweetheart deals that leave Arizonans worse off."

"I'm proud to lead the Domestic Water Protection Act to stop these entities from stealing our state's water."