Posted on 03/04/2011 2:49:06 AM PST by moonshinner_09
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderón on Thursday agreed tentatively to open up U.S. highways to Mexican trucks — a step that finally could put the United States in permanent compliance with the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.
Mexico proposes to cut in half its retaliatory tariffs on 99 U.S. products exported to Mexico immediately upon completion of a final proposal. Once the first Mexican trucking company is authorized to make deliveries beyond the border zone, the remaining half of the tariffs will be removed, the White House said.
In a far-ranging summit in Washington, Obama also said the U.S. is seeking the extradition of the suspect arrested in Mexico in the killing of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent last month. And because of the tension from the release of secret cables distributed by WikiLeaks, Calderón suggested he may no longer be able to work with the American ambassador in Mexico. The U.S. has refused to allow Mexican trucks access amid concerns over their ability to meet America's safety and environmental standards. Mexico has retaliated with tariffs.
(Excerpt) Read more at mysanantonio.com ...
the extradition request would be weighed by Mexican officials. U.S. officials have pressed the Mexican government for better protection of agents serving as advisers in Mexico, asking that agents be allowed to carry weapons.
But Calderón said Mexican legal restrictions would prevent foreign agents from being armed in Mexico, even though it was imperative to enhance the level of protection. Agents are sitting ducks. Maybe he'll let them carry bean bags or white flags ?
More bad ideas in action.
I’m sure they will be treated the same as US truckers. Regulation after regulation, so much so, it’s barely able to provide a living for the independent trucker. Try suing a Mexican company for negligence after one of these truckers gets confused after not being able to read a sign....not because it’s in English, because he can’t read, and the runaway truck takes out a family of 8.....
“More bad ideas in action.” I agree. It’s bad move. Secure the border first. By the way, I bet the Mexican drivers will be Teamsters Union Members.
Well,
isn’t this special.
We must sterilize Washington of Democrats in the coming series of elections.
/sarc
I remember seeing a large tractor truck, with no trailer, on Route 2 in Concord, Massachusetts, about ten years ago. Struck me as odd.
Soon the FR super-capitalists will be here to tell us how great this is for American business.
So when some crazed mexo truck hits my car whoi should I contact for damages?
Now they won’t have to unload/reload all those drugs.
More efficient, you see.
Thank you Obozo for giving Texas another tool to use against you.
EPA that.
this crap was proposed by Jorge Booooosh.
God, how I hate the New World Odor.
That’s a brilliant political move...in the midst of a depression.
Border Patrol gettin’ too efficient at interfering with the narco trade?
There are no borders. We are one world.
Screw this.
Repeal the “1994 North American Free Trade Agreement” or tell me one single thing that has brought us any benefit with this stupid treaty.
The Mexicans had tarriffs on items sold there?
Why didn’t we place a tarriff on those lousy Mexican parts we are putting in supposed American automobiles.
True, the chamber of commerce crowd will be dancing in the street more slave labor, buys them more whores.
I work in the transportation industry as a consultant to several large trucking firms. I can't even begin to tell you how bad this is for American drivers. Freight rates have been abysmal for quite a while, and this will serve to compound the problem. The Mexican truck fleets are not going to operate within the lower 48 - they unload in the FTZ at the border and freight is transferred to other Mexican fleets already based in the US. With all of the new regulations that have been dumped on the industry over the past several years (most recently SafeStat and HOS limitations), it is getting harder and harder to operate profitably and find drivers wiling to endure the challenges for a pittance. Enter the Mexican fleets who will insure that freight rates are driven down and drivers are in the cabs for next to no pay. It is not surprising the Teamsters are looking to bolster membership, but this does nothing to protect the viability of current members - they should be up in arms with union leadership.
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