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.
Ouch. I give you a three pointer on that one.
Everyone has their own view on this topic. You and I agree, but it’s a tough issue to nail down. Both sides seem to have to good points, but the free traders have been sold a bill of goods, and they’re out to convert the world.
Not this guys... I’m just not buying it.
You need to compare alternatives. One alternative is to unload/load at the border. The other alternative is not to unload/load. I am no expert in the transportation industry but those are the alternatives as I understand. I do not think it is a requirement to unload/load all trucks at the border if this agreement goes forward.
That's why the Exec wants Fast Track Authority...no debate.
Countries with more freedom have higher standards of living.
Thank you
I appreciate your view on who drives the trucks. That’s okay. I agree with wanting saftety issues to be a priority.
Thanks. Have a good one...
Your definition of freedom disqualifies you from this discussion.
“China gaining the top spot in Foreign Trade Dominance accounced a few weeks ago comes to mind...thanks of course to our wonderful ‘trade policies’.”
Slave labor, and a currency deliberately kept artificially low helped China immensely. Our trade policies are suicidal.
“For Pete sake, they’re entire country has no respect for our laws, our borders or our sovereignty.
To those that haven’t figured it out, Mexico laughs in our faces, breaks our laws, and then makes demands on us.”
And Calderon just gave the USA the middle finger!
I wonder what happened to the suggestion that all drivers of trucks from Mexico or ANYWHERE - be able to read and speak ENGLISH..and pass the tests for an American Commercial Truck driving license in ENGLISH?
“Our trade policies are suicidal.”
That they are. Remember the best argument laid out on another thread by someone...’we’re already screwed, so we might as well just keep going this direction’? If that’s not a defeatist attitude, please someone show me one.
So we might as well give up our entire trucking industry to Mexico. Because that is exactly what will eventually occur.
Look you seem to think you’re some kind of economics trade wizzard or something. That’s okay. What baffles me is why you think business concerns are going to pay truckers $18 to $24 dollars an hour to go into Mexico to pick up goods and deliver them back into the U.S., when they could pay a Mexican driver to do it for $5 to $10 an hour.
Wasn’t the idea here to cut costs to the bone for the benefit of all mankind? Please explain why you think folks are going to opt to pay higher wages.
I mean if this makes sense, there’s no need to have Mexican drivers do anything.
Really? What's my definition of freedom?
I’m baffled myself. I have no idea what you are talking about.
” If that’s not a defeatist attitude, please someone show me one.”
Too many Americans are getting soft!
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