Transport Secretariat calls for ban on U.S. trucks in Mexico (NAFTA)

TheNewsMexico.com ^ | Dec. 14, 2002 | EFE

[madfly]

U.S. trucks line up to cross the border. Mexican transport officials are urging the government to place a ban on commercial vehicles from the United States. File Photo, TheNewsMexico.com

Transport Secretariat calls for ban on U.S. trucks in Mexico
EFE - 12/14/2002

MEXICO CITY - The Transportation Secretariat here on Friday urged the Economy Secretariat to ban U.S. trucks from Mexico in response to the United States' refusal to allow Mexican trucks on its highways.

According to the local press, Transportation Secretary Pedro Cerisola said "the privileges of U.S. truck drivers can be suspended" under Article 2019 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

In a Dec. 10 letter to Economy Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez, Cerisola explained the reasons for his displeasure with the current situation regarding trucks.

On Jan. 26, a NAFTA arbitration panel issued a ruling favorable to Mexico, urging the United States to allow Mexican trucks into the country, but the White House refused to accept this, citing safety concerns.

The U.S. decision, Cerisola said, "contains discriminatory elements" against Mexican truckers.

On Nov. 27, the United States gave the green light for Mexican trucks to travel its highways beginning in 2003, subject to safety inspection, proof of insurance and maintenance contracts with U.S. providers, and the testing of drivers for drugs and alcohol.

Currently, Mexican trucks are allowed on U.S. highways only within a strip extending 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the border.

According to Washington's figures, 4.3 million trucks crossed the U.S.-Mexico border last year.

[Mike K]

Mexican transport officials are urging the government to place a ban on commercial vehicles from the United States.

Right, then their economy tanks, mass starvation ensues and we get the bill anyway! Like most welfare for lifers, these people are just incredible.

[yoe]

What's good for the goose ain't necessarily good for the gander especially when it comes to V. Fox and his buddies.

[madfly]

ping

[Eastbound]

Next thing you know they'll want us to pay for the maintenance and construction of all their new highways. (Oops! Better not give them any ideas.)

[Ben Ficklin]

NAFTA may deliver blow to Mexican truckers

[Steve Eisenberg]

Next thing you know they'll want us to pay for the maintenance and construction of all their new highways. (Oops! Better not give them any ideas.)

Why shouldn't they want this, if they thought that it had a chance? It's called peaceful pursuit of the national interest. If they do it and we don't, who is at fault? Us.

As for illegal entry into the U.S., only police states stop people from getting out. It is our job to defend our borders -- don't blame Mexico.

[miner89]

Mexico has a race horse in charge of their transportation program?

[Steve Eisenberg]

What if Canada banned U.S. trucks? Should we then allow Canadian trucks in the U.S.? Not for a minute. As a simple matter of self-respect, if Mexican trucks are banned from the U.S., even if for good safety reasons, Mexico should also ban our trucks. If the Mexicans do not defend their national interest through such legitimate peaceful means, it will only cause greater resentment against us.

[4Freedom]

Someone in Mexico has a good racket going (with the government's blessing) over-charging for trucks, fuel, financing and parts. The Mexican trucking companies obviously respond by screwing the drivers and the motoring public by paying low wages and performing no preventive maintenance on their trucks.

The U.S. trucking companies like the deal they have on everything with the exception of labor costs and possibly strict, preventive, maintenance requirements.

Am I on the right track, here?

[Eastbound]

"As for illegal entry into the U.S., only police states stop people from getting out. It is our job to defend our borders -- don't blame Mexico."

Don't believe I made that inference. But now that you mention it, Mexico's massive illegal border crossings into the United States is more than just an offense against the laws of nations, it is purely outrageous. Bad enough that there is no formal complaint against it by our government, but the offense is compounded by our own government subsidizing it with our tax dollars. Personally, I'm offended by that. All that remains is for Mexico and the U.S. to formally announce an open border policy and shut down the INS. That would at least resolve all of the border and immigration problems. :<

[willyone]

Anyone who has read NAFTA is aware that even though Mexican trucks are given full access to the US that US trucks for several years will be restricted to a narrow border area. Another example of US politicians putting their own and business interests ahead of the rest of us. NAFTA is flawed from the start. Third world and first world countries residing side by side are a rarity. The problem we face is that the Mexicans look out for Mexico but our so called representatives only look out for the highest bidder. Makes you real proud.

[headsonpikes]

"highest bidder" bump.

[Steve Eisenberg]

The problem we face is that the Mexicans look out for Mexico but our so called representatives only look out for the highest bidder.

Yep. This I agree with.

[Ben Ficklin]

It is important to point out that it was the Mexican govt that first banned US trucks in 1982 to protect their trucking industry. The US banned mexican trucks in retaliation.

NAFTA cross border trucking is like everything in NAFTA: It favors the larger companies on both sides of the border. Cross border ownership of trucking companies was/is being phased in. First, 49% ownership was available. It is now at 51% and latter will be 100%. Cross border ownership is important in that the further away from the border that a truck travels, the harder it is to find a back haul. Cross ownership will make that back haul easier to find.

Small trucking companies and independents don't have the financial strength to participate in this.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Two way blocking is even better. Not every US truck driver who crosses the border is a nice person. In fact, there is a much greater chance that such a truck driver might be mob or terrorist related.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I'm glad President Bush blocked this. There is hope of sanity after all. Hardly any political pressure was applied to him on this that I know of. My primary concern, however, is the risk of terrorists using trucks to haul WMD and personnel.

[Eastbound]

"The problem we face is that the Mexicans look out for Mexico . . . ."

If you meant that the Mexican government looks out for the Mexican government, I would definitely agree. That is why Mexico, with its adequate resources and wealth is still a third-world nation. But then, we DO need a slave labor force, don't we? < /sarc > A peek into the future of global governance at the micro level.

[Billy_bob_bob]

Mexican presidents are the greatest! They always start out as "reformers" and end up as "fugitive billionaires". It's hilarious! You can set your calendar by when the Mexican "reformer" campaigns and when the Mexican "fugitive billionaire" ends up in exile.