Thread: U.S., Mexico Reach Deal to End Trucking Dispute

MARCH 3, 2011, 2:44 P.M. ET.U.S.,

U.S., Mexico Reach Deal to End Trucking Dispute

By ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon unveiled a deal resolving a longstanding dispute over cross-border trucking that has subjected the U.S. to billions of dollars in punitive tariffs.

The plan, announced at a news conference by the two presidents, will allow for half of those tariffs to be lifted immediately. It will establish a reciprocal, phased-in pilot program that allows Mexican trucks to operate inside the U.S. provided they comply with a series of safety and driver-skills and language tests monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The U.S. had effectively banned Mexican trucks from crossing the U.S. border, after the Teamsters union and others said the trucks weren't safe.

The ban was ruled a violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and subjected the U.S. to punitive tariffs by Mexico on a range of goods, from foods to Christmas trees.

The deal to end the dispute "is built on the highest safety standards that will authorize both Mexican and U.S. long-haul carriers to engage in cross-border operations under NAFTA," a senior administration official said.

Mexico would lift 50% of the tariffs when the final agreement for a new program is signed by both nations. The remaining 50% would be lifted when the first Mexican carrier receives authorization under the new program. The U.S. Trade Representative's office would ensure the tariffs are lifted as agreed.

Relations between Mexico and the U.S. have been rocky amid recent violence in Mexico's war on drugs. ICE agent Jaime Zapata was killed and another wounded by gunmen a few weeks ago. It marks the first time a U.S.-law-enforcement official was killed in the line of duty in Mexico in several decades.

Mr. Calderon has said the U.S. needs to do more to help Mexico win its war on drugs. Among the things he has said he wants the U.S. to do is tighten gun laws and work to lower drug use in America.

View Full Image

Reuters

Ultimately the agreement to end the dispute would suspend $2.4 billion in annual punitive tariffs on the U.S. It was billed by the White House as a job creator for both nations.

The Transportation Department hopes to have a proposed agreement available for congressional briefings and public notice and comment by late March or early April. After responding to public comments, the U.S. would finalize the agreement with Mexico.

"This is a very positive development, but it is not a done deal," an administration official said, adding some details are still being negotiated.

The dispute has simmered for more than 20 years, fanned by labor unions and their allies in Congress who secured repeated bans on Mexican trucks in the U.S. The disagreement has forced goods headed from Mexico into the U.S. to be re-loaded into U.S. trucks at the border.

Under the agreement, trucks will be required to have electronic on-board recorders to track compliance with U.S. hours-of-service laws.

Mexican trucks would further be required to comply with all U.S. motor-safety standards, and drivers would have to undergo testing for knowledge of English and U.S. safety laws and would be screened for illegal drug use.

Write to Elizabeth Williamson at elizabeth.williamson@wsj.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... TopStories

Well, well,well... lets see how the Teamsters react now that their jobs may start going to illegals!

Originally Posted by nomas

Well, well,well... lets see how the Teamsters react now that their jobs may start going to illegals!

The teamsters have been fighting this for 10 years or so.

RELATED

Allowing Mexican trucks delayed Date: Friday, August 31 @ 14:22:27 EDT Topic: Mexican ... Court of Appeals, San Francisco, inspector general, cross border trucks, Teamsters ...
www.alipac.us/article-print-2512.html - Cached

ALIPAC - BREAKING NEWS: First certified Mexican truck crosses ...
BREAKING NEWS: First certified Mexican truck crosses U.S. border Posted on ... other congressional members and representatives of OOIDA, the Teamsters and the Truck ...
www.alipac.us/article2532.html - Cached

ALIPAC - Mexican trucks defy Congress, still roll
Both OOIDA and the Teamsters have launched federal law suits aimed at blocking the continuance of the Mexican truck project. The FMCSA website currently lists 11 Mexican ...
www.alipac.us/article2841.html - Cached

ALIPAC - House Passes Ban on Cross-Border Truck Program
Dozens picket Mexican Consulate in Raleigh $44M Pot Seized: Arrested Illegal ... includes a ban on funding the Bush administration's cross-border truck program. Teamsters ...
www.alipac.us/article2719.html - Cached

Plan to let Mexican trucks deeper into U.S. hits snag in Senate
Topics: NAFTA, President Bush, Mexican Trucks, Opening the border, Mexican Trucking Companies, Teamsters, Transportation Department, Pilot Program, ITAM,
www.alipac.us/article-print-2039.html - Cached

ALIPAC - House votes to end highway access for Mexican trucks
House votes to end highway access for Mexican trucks Posted on Sunday, September 14 @ 06 ... Bush administration, presidential veto, Transportation Department, Teamsters ...
www.alipac.us/article3535.html - Cached

ALIPAC - WARNING: Mexican Trucks filled with illegal aliens ...
WARNING: Mexican Trucks filled with illegal aliens and drugs roll ... as early as Thursday – to test the safety of Mexican trucks on U.S. highways. The Teamsters ...
www.alipac.us/article-friend-2522.html - Cached

Illegal Immigration: Americans Fighting Back - Mexican Trucks ...
Mexican Trucks Threat to Safety of US Citizens and US Jobs Date: Tuesday, March 18 @ 11:36:56 EDT Topic: NAFTA CAFTA FTAA Washington, D.C. – Teamsters General President Jim ...
www.alipac.us/article-print-3040.html

President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon unveiled a deal resolving a longstanding dispute over cross-border trucking that has subjected the U.S. to billions of dollars in punitive tariffs.

We are drowning in debt supporting the poor and illiterate Mexican nationals who sneak in here and steal our jobs, healthcare and schooling. And Mexico charges us billions in tariffs?

Could we be any dumber?

Originally Posted by nomas

Well, well,well... lets see how the Teamsters react now that their jobs may start going to illegals!

all the unions are in obummer's back pocket,
Teamster leader Hoffa isnt going to say a damn thing

Under the agreement, trucks will be required to have electronic on-board recorders to track compliance with U.S. hours-of-service laws.

Mexican trucks would further be required to comply with all U.S. motor-safety standards, and drivers would have to undergo testing for knowledge of English and U.S. safety laws and would be screened for illegal drug use.

Haven't we been through this before? Does anyone here believe any of these so called safety measures will ever be followed! Mexican truckers are already concocting ways to cheat the system in order to bypass all measures no doubt.

[b]Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa “Deeply Disappointedâ€

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Add this to the war on workers: Mexican trucks

Today it was announced that the U.S. and Mexico had reached an agreement to start another pilot project to open the border to Mexican trucks.

Memories must be short. Ours aren't. The previous pilot program was a fiasco and this one will be too. It was expensive. It didn't provide any information about the safety of Mexican trucks overall. Hardly anyone participated in it. Plus the U.S. border agents couldn't guarantee they checked ("checked!" not "inspected") every Mexican truck every time it crossed the border.

And this was before Mexico devolved into a war zone.

We'd like to know: why should American taxpayers pay for Mexican trucking companies to take away American jobs? That's what would happen with this proposal to inspect the trucks and drug test the drivers.

You won't be surprised to hear that Teamsters President Jim Hoffa condemned the deal.

This deal puts Americans at risk. This agreement caves in to business interests at the expense of the traveling public and American workers.
I am strongly opposed to this agreement. Why agree to a deal that threatens the jobs of U.S. truck drivers and warehouse workers when unemployment is so high? And why would we do it when drug cartel violence along the border is just getting worse?â€

Related:
U.S. makes deal to let in Mexico's trucks
http://www.alipac.us/ftopic-230373-0.html