U.S. proposes to open roads to Mexican trucks

Yahoo ^ | 1/6/11 | John Crawley - Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration on Thursday proposed a new inspection and monitoring regime to permit long-haul trucks from Mexico on U.S. highways after years of delays over safety concerns and political wrangling.

The Transportation Department's compromise seeks to revive efforts to fulfill a key provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which is highly unpopular with labor but supported by many businesses as a cost advantage. [ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called the plan by his agency a starting point to renew negotiations with Mexico, which has slapped tariffs on U.S. products over the delay.

The Transportation Department said the plan, which would eventually need congressional and Mexican government approval, would prioritize safety and that a formal proposal is due to be announced in coming months.

The countries would negotiate the number of carriers allowed to participate in a first phase. Applicants would be vetted by U.S. law enforcement agencies. Trucking safety programs would be reviewed and each vehicle would be inspected and certified by highway safety and environmental officials.

Prospects for an agreement are uncertain. The plan has failed to move ahead over the past decade regardless of which party controlled the White House or Congress.

But the Obama administration felt more comfortable issuing a proposal with the program's fiercest critics, labor friendly Democrats in the House of Representatives, voted out of office in November or sidelined to the minority. Republicans took over the chamber on Wednesday.

Mexico said it would review the plan, calling it a positive first step, and said tariffs would be lifted after a trucking agreement is completed.

"In general this is very good news," said Humberto Trevino, Mexico's deputy transport minister.

[Liz]

ping to #40

[AuntB]

“To me, this is perhaps the one thing Obama is doing that I agree with. Something has got to give in order to improve the lives of Mexicans so they stay in their own country, or even better, want to go home because their economy is taking off and they can make money at home instead.”

Nothing is going to satisfy the socialist/criminal culture of Mexicans. We’ve given them billions...for what? They still invade and leach off us and demand more every day.

Amnesty Advocates Interrupt Birthright Event, Tackle Senior Citizen
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2652691/posts

[stephenjohnbanker]

S C R E W NASCO, and SCREW them all, too!!