Posted on 12/18/2001 2:04:35 PM PST by expose
Mexican Trucking Companies Sue U.S. Government, Alleging Discrimination
By Lynn Brezosky Associated Press Writer
Published: Dec 18, 2001
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Eleven Mexican trucking companies filed a $4 billion lawsuit Tuesday, accusing the U.S. government of discrimination by denying them permits to operate and do business in United States. The complaint asserts that federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation, violated the North American Free Trade Agreement by allowing Canadian trucking firms more access than Mexican companies.
"There is no problem when trade is coming back and forth across the border," said lead attorney Fernando Chavez, the son of the late labor leader Cesar Chavez. "What causes the problem is when an individual who's Mexican is bringing it across."
The suit also alleges that Mexican truckers have been denied the right to invest in or own trucking companies based in the United States.
The plaintiffs' lawyers said the suit, filed in federal court in Brownsville, was on behalf of at least 185 Mexican trucking concerns. The $4 billion figure includes business and profits lost by Mexican companies since 1995, attorneys said.
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation Tuesday said he had no immediate comment.
Rob Black, spokesman for the Teamsters union, which represents more than 120,000 U.S. truck drivers, called the suit "baseless."
"We would call on the trucking companies and the government of Mexico and say that now is the time they should do what should have been done seven years ago when NAFTA was passed: Improve their trucks," Black said.
The issue of Mexican trucks in the United States has simmered since a part of the NAFTA agreement called for allowing trucks to travel first throughout Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas by December 1995 and throughout the United States by January 2000.
While Canadian trucks were allowed, the agreement was delayed for Mexican trucks by former President Clinton.
After the White House threatened a veto on stricter legislation, a compromise was approved earlier this month that requires U.S. inspectors to conduct safety examinations of Mexican trucking companies, their vehicles, as well as driver's license verification.
Implementing the rules is expected to take months
Too bad but the US is a separate country and they aren't citizens here. The feds make it rough on Americans buying and running a company, if they don't like the rules they could invest in their own country. Americans are faced with many regulations if they try to own a business in Mexico.
Good. I hope they sue our idiot arses off, and the Republican party has to pay for it. Thanks to the spineless bunch that loves NAFTA, and encourages illegal immigration.
Umm. Sure, Swampfox, it's those Republicans that want all of the Mexicans to slip over the border. Uh huh. Is that so all of the illegals can vote some conservatives into office? You've obviously been hittin' the Cuervo a tad hard.
Hey!...Who's "our"...you and the mouse in yer pocket?...Bwahahahaha!!!...But I do agree with you on nafta BS and the borders being "open"...
Watch the next 5 years...The US Dollar will become the stock'n'trade, there will be no "borders" to speak of between US, Canada, Mexico...South America will follow, and I don't care what "Party" of the same is in power, that's where we're headed. IMHO of course.
FMCDH
Agree with earlier post that there's no great difference between the two countries' trucks. Short haul trucks everywhere are in poorer condition than longhaul rigs. You aren't going to be engaged in longhaul trucking with a piece o' crap truck...getting towed is no small expense...best to keep a 'maybe' truck close to home.
A better issue is that the vast majority of these Mexican drivers can't speak Ehglish to a degree that would engender any warm fuzzy feelings of safety in my mind. Although, Canadian truckers can be just as bad (maybe I should have said "Quebecians" or whatever they call their socialist backsides), I've been at several receivers or shippers and seen some humorous exchanges between French-speakers and Americans.
So its not the trucks you fear, its the mexicans. Go back to your cave. This is a new world my friend. El mejicano poseerá su hogar y casará a sus hijas.
You must know nothing about the trucking industry. I have watched the junk trucks bought at auction in the states and then seen them transported to the border.
If you would stand at the border crossing and look at all the old junk coming from mexico, that are former US companies worn out trucks, then travel to the Ambassador bridge at Detroit and see the difference your would have some comprehension of the subject as it applies to safety alone.
While there is a degree of legitimate concern about safety, this is really an economic issue. I am willing to listen to the arguments, but it pisses me off when people use "safety" when they really mean "money". There might be a reasosnable argument to prohibit Mexican trucks from entering this country. I just wish they would stop with the "for the children", "it's about your safety" and argue their real agenda.
Are you denying that President Bush said he plans to give amnesty to all illegals, or at least make a start? Do you hear any Republicans with enough guts who will say we are in danger of losing our vote and our country to these people if the massive invasion doesn't end? hhhmmmmmm? The Pubs are the party in power, aren't they? Why don't they bloody shut down the borders, and stop the criminal activity? They have no intentions of doing this, so let them pay the bloody fine out of their ill gotten savings accounts.
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