55 Mexican trucks have U.S. clearance
Posted on Sunday, December 09 @ 06:55:02 EST
Topic: NAFTA CAFTA FTAA
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 Dec. 7, 2007, 10:38PM
55 Mexican trucks have U.S. clearance
By MEENA THIRUVENGADAM
San Antonio Express-news
Despite congressional action to pull funding for the program under
which they are operating, at least 55 Mexican trucks have received
approval to make deliveries anywhere within the U.S., according to the
latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
An undisclosed number of trucks from another 37 Mexican carriers
also have been authorized to participate in the program pending the
filing of proof of insurance. Forty-one trucks from four U.S. carriers,
which have shown less interest in the program than their Mexican
counterparts, have gained similar access into Mexico.
The trucks are participants in a cross-border trucking program
aimed at satisfying one of the last outstanding components of the North
American Free Trade Agreement. Under the agreement, Mexican, Canadian
and U.S. commercial trucks were to gain access to one another's roads
within a few years of the signing of NAFTA. But court cases, union
opposition and politics have delayed the border's opening.
TOPICS: Illegal Immigration, Illegal Immigrants, Mexican Trucks, NAFTA, Mexican carriers,
The program, announced in February, aims to test the safety and
security of allowing cross-border trucking. Trucks began crossing in
September.
Fernando Páez, owner of the first two Mexican rigs to participate
in the DOT program, said he has been getting calls from people
interested in shipping goods directly to the U.S. from Mexico. But his
company, Transportes Olympic, cannot plan for the future given the
program's uncertainty, he said.
"We hope it goes forward, but there are still some issues that need to be decided," he said.
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