Transport Secretariat calls for ban on U.S. trucks in Mexico (NAFTA)

TheNewsMexico.com ^ | Dec. 14, 2002 | EFE

[madfly]

U.S. trucks line up to cross the border. Mexican transport officials are urging the government to place a ban on commercial vehicles from the United States. File Photo, TheNewsMexico.com

Transport Secretariat calls for ban on U.S. trucks in Mexico
EFE - 12/14/2002

MEXICO CITY - The Transportation Secretariat here on Friday urged the Economy Secretariat to ban U.S. trucks from Mexico in response to the United States' refusal to allow Mexican trucks on its highways.

According to the local press, Transportation Secretary Pedro Cerisola said "the privileges of U.S. truck drivers can be suspended" under Article 2019 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

In a Dec. 10 letter to Economy Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez, Cerisola explained the reasons for his displeasure with the current situation regarding trucks.

On Jan. 26, a NAFTA arbitration panel issued a ruling favorable to Mexico, urging the United States to allow Mexican trucks into the country, but the White House refused to accept this, citing safety concerns.

The U.S. decision, Cerisola said, "contains discriminatory elements" against Mexican truckers.

On Nov. 27, the United States gave the green light for Mexican trucks to travel its highways beginning in 2003, subject to safety inspection, proof of insurance and maintenance contracts with U.S. providers, and the testing of drivers for drugs and alcohol.

Currently, Mexican trucks are allowed on U.S. highways only within a strip extending 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the border.

According to Washington's figures, 4.3 million trucks crossed the U.S.-Mexico border last year.

[Mike K]

Mexican transport officials are urging the government to place a ban on commercial vehicles from the United States.

Right, then their economy tanks, mass starvation ensues and we get the bill anyway! Like most welfare for lifers, these people are just incredible.

[yoe]

What's good for the goose ain't necessarily good for the gander especially when it comes to V. Fox and his buddies.

[madfly]

ping

[Eastbound]

Next thing you know they'll want us to pay for the maintenance and construction of all their new highways. (Oops! Better not give them any ideas.)

[Ben Ficklin]

NAFTA may deliver blow to Mexican truckers

[Steve Eisenberg]

Next thing you know they'll want us to pay for the maintenance and construction of all their new highways. (Oops! Better not give them any ideas.)

Why shouldn't they want this, if they thought that it had a chance? It's called peaceful pursuit of the national interest. If they do it and we don't, who is at fault? Us.

As for illegal entry into the U.S., only police states stop people from getting out. It is our job to defend our borders -- don't blame Mexico.

[miner89]

Mexico has a race horse in charge of their transportation program?

[Steve Eisenberg]

What if Canada banned U.S. trucks? Should we then allow Canadian trucks in the U.S.? Not for a minute. As a simple matter of self-respect, if Mexican trucks are banned from the U.S., even if for good safety reasons, Mexico should also ban our trucks. If the Mexicans do not defend their national interest through such legitimate peaceful means, it will only cause greater resentment against us.

[4Freedom]

Someone in Mexico has a good racket going (with the government's blessing) over-charging for trucks, fuel, financing and parts. The Mexican trucking companies obviously respond by screwing the drivers and the motoring public by paying low wages and performing no preventive maintenance on their trucks.

The U.S. trucking companies like the deal they have on everything with the exception of labor costs and possibly strict, preventive, maintenance requirements.

Am I on the right track, here?

[Eastbound]

"As for illegal entry into the U.S., only police states stop people from getting out. It is our job to defend our borders -- don't blame Mexico."

Don't believe I made that inference. But now that you mention it, Mexico's massive illegal border crossings into the United States is more than just an offense against the laws of nations, it is purely outrageous. Bad enough that there is no formal complaint against it by our government, but the offense is compounded by our own government subsidizing it with our tax dollars. Personally, I'm offended by that. All that remains is for Mexico and the U.S. to formally announce an open border policy and shut down the INS. That would at least resolve all of the border and immigration problems. :<

[willyone]

Anyone who has read NAFTA is aware that even though Mexican trucks are given full access to the US that US trucks for several years will be restricted to a narrow border area. Another example of US politicians putting their own and business interests ahead of the rest of us. NAFTA is flawed from the start. Third world and first world countries residing side by side are a rarity. The problem we face is that the Mexicans look out for Mexico but our so called representatives only look out for the highest bidder. Makes you real proud.

[headsonpikes]

"highest bidder" bump.

[Steve Eisenberg]

The problem we face is that the Mexicans look out for Mexico but our so called representatives only look out for the highest bidder.

Yep. This I agree with.

[Ben Ficklin]

It is important to point out that it was the Mexican govt that first banned US trucks in 1982 to protect their trucking industry. The US banned mexican trucks in retaliation.

NAFTA cross border trucking is like everything in NAFTA: It favors the larger companies on both sides of the border. Cross border ownership of trucking companies was/is being phased in. First, 49% ownership was available. It is now at 51% and latter will be 100%. Cross border ownership is important in that the further away from the border that a truck travels, the harder it is to find a back haul. Cross ownership will make that back haul easier to find.

Small trucking companies and independents don't have the financial strength to participate in this.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Two way blocking is even better. Not every US truck driver who crosses the border is a nice person. In fact, there is a much greater chance that such a truck driver might be mob or terrorist related.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I'm glad President Bush blocked this. There is hope of sanity after all. Hardly any political pressure was applied to him on this that I know of. My primary concern, however, is the risk of terrorists using trucks to haul WMD and personnel.

[Eastbound]

"The problem we face is that the Mexicans look out for Mexico . . . ."

If you meant that the Mexican government looks out for the Mexican government, I would definitely agree. That is why Mexico, with its adequate resources and wealth is still a third-world nation. But then, we DO need a slave labor force, don't we? < /sarc > A peek into the future of global governance at the micro level.

[Billy_bob_bob]

Mexican presidents are the greatest! They always start out as "reformers" and end up as "fugitive billionaires". It's hilarious! You can set your calendar by when the Mexican "reformer" campaigns and when the Mexican "fugitive billionaire" ends up in exile.

[Ben Ficklin]

I don't know what you mean by "President Bush blocked this".

[Joe Hadenuf]

As for illegal entry into the U.S., only police states stop people from getting out. It is our job to defend our borders -- don't blame Mexico.

Well of course. Let's not blame poor Mexico. It's not like Mexico is a corrupt nation run by the wealty elite. It's not like these wealty elite sit back and laugh at America's situation as millions of their problems are exported northbound. As one of the worlds biggest suppliers of illegal drugs, The Mexican government take steps to make sure that their tons of illegal drugs don't make their way into our country.

Thanks you Mexico for being such a good neighbor. I know we have failed to protect our side of the borders, but America wants to thank you for being such a good, honest neighbor and helping the situation and doing your part.

[cake_crumb]

"On Jan. 26, a NAFTA arbitration panel issued a ruling favorable to Mexico, urging the United States to allow Mexican trucks into the country, but the White House refused to accept this, citing safety concerns."

Gee...where are all the hystericals who screamed and ranted and raved that GW was allowing Mexican trucks accross our borders AND SELLING US OUT SELLING US OUT SELLING US OUT??

[cake_crumb]

"Why shouldn't they want this, if they thought that it had a chance? It's called peaceful pursuit of the national interest. If they do it and we don't, who is at fault? Us"

I hope I misunderstood your meaning in that statement.

It's not OUR responsibility to do ANYTHING for Mexico. It's a sovereign country. Their country is THEIR responsibility.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yes, GW saved us from this titanic invasion. He has done so much to secure our borders our sovereignty and our security. Thank you Mr. President, I sincerely thank you. Oh, and the dress Laura's was wearing last weekend was gorgeous.

[FITZ]

Did you know that every living former president of Mexico is getting $5 million dollars a year ---ten times what former US presidents receive? Meanwhile 50 millions Mexicans can't make even $5 a day. I don't see how this retirement pay is close to being justified ---especially since everyone of them took off with millions or billions of dollars before leaving the country.

[4Freedom]

When the yearly take-home pay for truck drivers hits $12,000 a year, they'll just be more jobs that Americans no longer want to do, anyway.

Oh well, there's still plenty of high paying jobs for these former, American, truck drivers in the construction trades. Aren't there?

;^)

[Joe Hadenuf]

Scary isn't it. Like I said, we live next to one of the most corrupt countries on the face of the earth.

[cake_crumb]

"Yes, GW saved us from this titanic invasion. He has done so much to secure our borders our sovereignty and our security. Thank you Mr. President, I sincerely thank you. Oh, and the dress Laura's was wearing last weekend was gorgeous."

Well said...and yes it was. Then again, Laura Bush manages to look like a million bucks whatever she's wearing...while some OTHER women (no need to name the crusty one) who preceded her in the White House look like white trash even if they're wearing a million dollar pantsuit. <G>

[Ben Ficklin]

If and when the mexican truck drivers get here, the Teamsters will organize them.

[1rudeboy]

Mexico has a race horse in charge of their transportation program?

Yeah, I hear he's a real stud.

[norton]

A large percentage, if not the majority, of semi-drivers in the Los Angeles area ARE Mexicans. Does not matter where the truck is registered (and both countries are represented);
the trucks are below standard and the driving is scary,
safety checks are "racist",
freeways around the harbor are littered with lost parts,
and there have been efforts at unionizing as independents.

(I have this recurring vision of two impoverished mexicans watching an American truck go down their dirt trail and complaining about the "Gringo invasion".)

[Ben Ficklin]

You are describing Texas. It is intersting to note that CA claims to have inspected the mexican trucks down to where they are no worse than US trucks. They are equally and uniformly bad.

Part of the safety program of mexican trucks allows US inpectors to go onto the yards of those mexican truck companies that are permitted in the US and inspect up to half of the trucks. In Texas, inspetors are not allowed to inpect at the yard of Texas companies. The must wait and random inspect on the roads.

[4Freedom]

A lesson that I learned, while I was working my way through college, is the Teamsters will cut their membership's throats.

Members pay the teamsters a flat rate per month not a percentage of what they make. The more employees the companies can hire, the more dues that the Teamsters get.

I witnessed a Teamster's Local allow their member's wages to be negotiated way down and the companies able to force old full-timers, that were at top-rate, out and replace them with a larger number of starting-rate employees.

The new contract made it very unattractive for new hirees to consider this line of work as a career, anymore.

The employers concentrated on hiring students that were looking to finance their education, so they could pursue other careers.

A very small percentage of these students ever stuck around long enough to make top-rate under the new contract.

The Teamsters collected more dues.

The Employers saved labor costs.

The union members got the royal shaft.

[XBob]

18 - "I'm glad President Bush blocked this. "

blocked what??????????

1 - "On Nov. 27, the United States gave the green light for Mexican trucks to travel its highways beginning in 2003, subject to safety inspection, proof of insurance and maintenance contracts with U.S. providers, and the testing of drivers for drugs and alcohol."

[XBob]

18 - "I'm glad President Bush blocked this. "

blocked what??????????

1 - "On Nov. 27, the United States gave the green light for Mexican trucks to travel its highways beginning in 2003, subject to safety inspection, proof of insurance and maintenance contracts with U.S. providers, and the testing of drivers for drugs and alcohol."

[koax]

unstated or perhaps unforseen when nafta was passed, china is taking away mexican jobs. tijuana used to have the largest assembly of televisions in the world, but now those relatively-high labor jobs are moving to china.

so...count on mexicans to continue coming to the states.

[XBob]

Last month, the U.S. government announced the end to a moratorium and said it will open its borders to Mexican trucks starting in 2003, but with restrictions.

The trucks will only be allowed to enter the United States after passing safety inspections, obtaining insurance and when carrying maintenance records from U.S. firms. In addition, drivers will have to submit to drug and alcohol tests.

According to the Mexican government and Canacar, which represents 4,500 companies and 32,000 independent truckers, the requirements are "discriminatory."

Canacar statistics indicate that only 30,000 of the 140,000 trucks it represents currently meet the U.S. requirements

[FITZ]

The buses are already on our highways: Here's one bus line that is traveling throughout the US:

http://www.estrellablanca.com.mx/

Click on International and you'll see the routes they have all over the US.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

MEXICO CITY - The Transportation Secretariat here on Friday urged the Economy Secretariat to ban U.S. trucks from Mexico in response to the United States' refusal to allow Mexican trucks on its highways.

[First sentance. Bush was obligated to carry out NAFTA agreements already made. But does this not mean he is blocking implimentation with red tape?]

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

30,000 trucks is still wa.....ay too many.

[Consort]

[FITZ]

If you look at the routes the Mexican buses are apparently allowed to take passengers between NY City and Miami, and between Chicago and NY City and it seems like LA also. Our government first made it sound like the buses and trucks would be allowed to travel from Mexico cities directly to American cities and wouldn't travel from one American point to another ---but this doesn't appear to be true ---even this early into the game.

[FITZ]

The problem we face is that the Mexicans look out for Mexico but our so called representatives only look out for the highest bidder.

You're giving the Mexican politicians far too much credit, they aren't looking out for Mexico, they are looking out to line their own pockets. NAFTA isn't benefitting the average Mexican anymore than it's benefitting the average American. All the benefits are to the few who plan to make their big bucks from these deals.

There isn't an honest politician in all of Mexico, patriotism to Mexico is a concept they don't uderstand at all ----much like our own politicians. They're all on the make.

[Paulie]

"The problem we face is that the Mexicans look out for Mexico but our so called representatives only look out for the highest bidder. Makes you real proud."

Well said.

[need_a_screen_name]

What if Canada banned U.S. trucks? Should we then allow Canadian trucks in the U.S.? Not for a minute. As a simple matter of self-respect, if Mexican trucks are banned from the U.S., even if for good safety reasons, Mexico should also ban our trucks. If the Mexicans do not defend their national interest through such legitimate peaceful means, it will only cause greater resentment against us.

Did you miss this part?

"On Nov. 27, the United States gave the green light for Mexican trucks to travel its highways beginning in 2003, subject to safety inspection, proof of insurance and maintenance contracts with U.S. providers, and the testing of drivers for drugs and alcohol."

Their trucks are going to be allowed entry. That is why what the Mexcicans are saying now is so stupid.

[ApesForEvolution]

Mexico...a neighbor with cheap labor and lots of oil.

[wcbtinman]

People had better come to realize the impact of the trucking industry has on the welfare of the entire US. Sooner or later, everything in the US gets there by truck.

You want to have a 'Mexican trucker' strike when they end up with a significant part of the US hauling business? (rhetorical question)

If you think that OPEC was a major interruption back in the 70's, just wait until this scenario plays out. A third world shithole will bring the US to it's knees without firing a shot.