Posted on 09/11/2007 5:09:04 PM PDT by ruination
WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Tuesday to ban Mexican trucks from U.S. roadways, rekindling a more than decade-old trade dispute with Mexico.
By a 74-24 vote, the Senate approved a proposal by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., prohibiting the Transportation Department from spending money on a North American Free Trade Agreement pilot program giving Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways.
The proposal is part of a $106 billion transportation and housing spending bill that the Senate hopes to vote on later this week. The House approved a similar provision to Dorgan's in July as part of its version of the transportation spending bill.
Supporters of Dorgan's amendment argued the trucks are not yet proven safe. Opponents said the U.S. is applying tougher standards to Mexican trucks than to Canadian trucks and failing to live up to its NAFTA obligations.
Until last week, Mexican trucks were restricted to driving within a commercial border zone that stretched about 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexican boundary, 75 miles in Arizona. One truck has traveled deep into the U.S. interior as part of the pilot program.
Blocking the trucks would help Democrats curry favor with organized labor, an important ally for the 2008 presidential elections.
"Why the urgency? Why not stand up for the (truck) standards that we've created and developed in this country?" Dorgan asked.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who drafted a Republican alternative to Dorgan's amendment, said the attempt to block the trucks appeared to be about limiting competition and may amount to discrimination against Mexico.
"I would never allow an unsafe truck on our highways, particularly Texas highways," he said.
Under NAFTA, Mexico can seek retaliation against the U.S. for failing to adhere to the treaty's requirements, including retaining tariffs on goods that the treaty eliminates, said Sidney Weintraub, a professor emeritus at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs in Austin.
The trucking program allows up to 100 Mexican carriers to send their trucks on U.S. roadways for delivery and pickup of cargo. None can carry hazardous material or haul cargo between U.S. points.
So far, the Department of Transportation has granted a single Mexican carrier, Transportes Olympic, access to U.S. roads after a more than decade-long dispute over the NAFTA provision opening up the roadways.
One of the carrier's trucks crossed the border in Laredo, Texas last week and delivered its cargo in North Carolina on Monday and was expected to return to Mexico late this week after a stop in Decatur, Ala.
The transportation bill is S. 1789.
I am sympathetic to your concern that American drivers do not have access to Mexican roads. From my understanding, it is not safe for Americans to drive rigs in Mexico. The lack of access may be a way to oppose this agreement without triggering unilateral tariffs from Mexico.
I am not sure if this issue affects illegal immigration. I am in favor of inspections to ensure that immigrants are not smuggled.
In a broader sense, NAFTA was supported to decrease illegal immigration. I am not sure if NAFTA has had an impact on illegal immigration. On balance, I think that illegal immigration would be worse without NAFTA. Perhaps there is evidence to the contrary.
"Just in Time" delivery has already done away with warehouses. If you thing mexican truckers are going to come to the US and "teach" us anything, other than the need for better truck inspections, you are sadly mistaken.
NAFTA is not a treaty. Treaties require a 2/3 vote in the senate. There is no enforceable obligation in NAFTA under our constitution.
It’s about vehicle safety and national security for me.
There was a FRONTLINE show on PBS quite awhile ago where it said that the “Lawyers” that wrote NAFTA actually wrote loopholes into the law and then went to Mexico and began to sue this country using the loopholes.
Ah, so I take it that no patriot American can possibly disagree with protectionists?
Why don’t you present us with a cost benefit analysis instead of your Pollyanna ‘its gonna’ be wonderful day’. Saving a few hours at the border is going to make up for all of the negative financial and social impacts on the US? I call BS.
” Exactly...it’s the teamster’s...nothing more than support for the UNIONS..... “
Yup. One of those “even a busted clock is right twice a day” things.
In the borders areas, yes.
Mexico has said they will open their Country to us, when we fully comply with the Court’s order and NAFTA agreement.
That said...there may be room here for some agreement if our politicians will allow it.
No, it's the same as asking should we have protected the jobs of horse and buggy drivers or milkmen when their jobs no longer became efficient.
Boy, that's one cheap ass, low rent conspiracy that can be derailed so easily by a vote in the Senate.
Cornyn is a good guy. He and Kay Bailey were great when Bush tried to push through the immigration reform. This surprises me.
It’s impossible to ensure reasonable safety regulations: we don’t have the manpower or resources to do it.Furthermore, the U.S. can cite safety and security reasons for blocking the Mexican trucks instead of violating NAFTA.You’re a dreamer if you believe that we can prohibit illegal contraband and illegal immigration when the U.S. can’t do it now.Besides,Mexico has no fear with our legal system. U.S.Taxpayers will spend millions to defend them.
“in other words when hell freezes over.”
I almost replied to that post, but I’ll just bump yours instead :)
If Mexican highways are safe, American drivers would want to drive in Mexico. In the current situation, I am not sure how many drivers want to venture into Mexico. Insurance is also an obstacle. Mexico requires special high priced insurance and American insurance companies may not insure if trucks are driven into Mexico.
I have worked in the private sector, but most of my work has been in public universities. I am in favor of more competition in higher education regardless of the effect on my position. Competition in higher education should be another thread so I will not comment here.
Hey Toodster. Was that your truck down in Decatur? (lol) ;)
More BS from scarface. Horse and buggy drivers became obsolete, they weren’t replaced by Mexican drivers.
Toddster, mis-spell
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