Mexican Truckers File $6 Billion Claim Against U.S. in Nafta Spat

WSJ ^ | June 2 2009 | JOSE DE CORDOBA

[radar101]

MEXICO CITY -- A Mexican trade association representing more than 4,500 trucking companies is seeking $6 billion in damages from the U.S. government because of Washington's refusal to allow Mexican trucks to carry cargo over U.S. roads.

The group, Canacar, filed a demand for arbitration under the North American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. State Department in April, but didn't publicize the move until Monday.

"We want reciprocity," said Pedro Ojeda, a lawyer for Canacar. "The U.S. has notoriously not kept its commitments." Mr. Ojeda said the complaint is the largest such demand made under Nafta, as the 1993 pact is known.

Deborah Mesloh, a spokeswoman for U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, said Monday that, "We take our trade obligations very seriously and this is an issue we've been working on for a couple months." A State Department spokesman said the claim is "being studied."

The arbitration demand is the latest fallout from legislation signed earlier this year by President Barack Obama canceling a pilot program that had allowed Mexican trucks to carry cargo on U.S. roads. In March, the Mexican government retaliated by slapping tariffs on $2.4 billion of U.S. goods.

[cripplecreek]

“Free” trade? Do what we tell you or we’ll sue.

[Dallas59]

Mexican death traps on US roads...No thanks.

[albie]

BO will pay that, no problem. He’ll swing by on his next “Apologies for America” tour.

[1rudeboy]

As if anyone cares. Our economy is booming, the numbers show:

NAFTA trade down almost 28 percent in March.

[rockinqsranch]

Reminds me of this past Sunday morning as I was at a gas station fueling the Home Depot rental truck before returning it to the store, a man whom could hardly speak English approached me to give him some money for some breakfast at the Denny’s next door.

I told him I didn’t have any cash (was using my Mobile-Exxon card for the fuel), and this guy proceeded to lecture me in his butchered English about sharing with the poor. He became quite intimidating as he proceeded with his lecture, and I became quite irritated with the bastard.

This was across the street and down a block from the Home Depot in Riverside where at least a hundred, perhaps more of the Illegals lurk seeking day labor.

Wondering when they will sue the likes of me for not sharing our so-called wealth?

[cripplecreek]

this guy proceeded to lecture me in his butchered English about sharing with the poor.

That's because he's a marxist.

[HighlyOpinionated]

I told him I didn’t have any cash (was using my Mobile-Exxon card for the fuel), and this guy proceeded to lecture me in his butchered English about sharing with the poor.

Let's get some cards made up to hand to these beggars that says, in Spanish, "Tell it to 0bama at comments@whitehouse.gov as I owe you nothing and if you're here illegally, you are hereby officially told to return to your home country and leave the USA within 24 hours."

It won't do any good, but it'll shake the illegal aliens up a bit the first few times it's used.

[Humble Servant]

” a man whom could hardly speak English... “

It’s not just the swine flu that’s contagious...

[shadeaud]

Why aren’t these mother truckers just using illegals to carry their loads. This would keep goods coming into the country and lower the amount of drugs.

[DustyMoment]

Mexican Truckers File $6 Billion Claim Against U.S. in Nafta Spat

Translation - Mexican truckers want THEIR bailout. Zero will probably give it to them.

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[SwinneySwitch]

NAU/SPP flag/s

[jimt]

So far the Mexican trucks have an excellent record, both in on-the-road safety and in results of safety inspections.

Wanna get death traps off the road ? Get rid of illegals and their uninsured junkers !

I think the Mexican truckers have a legitimate complaint. Of course, the Teamsters won’t like it.

[jimt]

I told him I didn’t have any cash (was using my Mobile-Exxon card for the fuel), and this guy proceeded to lecture me in his butchered English about sharing with the poor. He became quite intimidating as he proceeded with his lecture, and I became quite irritated with the bastard.

Had the same experience with an illegal at a Shell here in Houston.

As I was holding a gas hose and had a lighter in my pocket I didn't find him TOO intimidating.

Needless to say, I won't ever shop again at that Shell that tolerates illegals of their property.

[Issaquahking]

"We want reciprocity," said Pedro Ojeda, a lawyer for Canacar. "The U.S. has notoriously not kept its commitments." Mr. Ojeda said the complaint is the largest such demand made under Nafta, as the 1993 pact is known.

Hey Pedro and your buddies, message to you from those who are free, because we understand froodom is not free...

[Ben Ficklin]

Wait until the US trucking companies that invested in Mexican trucking companies start their lawsuits, then you will see some big bucks.

[wolfcreek]

“NAFTA trade down almost 28 percent in March.”

But remittances are only down about 19%. Go figure. BTW: Mexico can KMTA.

[wolfcreek]

On what grounds would they sue?

[cripplecreek]

LOL apparently they would sue on the grounds that they tried to screw Americans by outsourcing to “Mexican” trucking companies and got bent over the stump of the tree they cut down. LOL