Rep Claims Mexico Truck Deal Would Liberalize Too Quickly, Etc.
On March 10, 2011, Representative DeFazio (D)1 sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation LaHood2 requesting additional details regarding the Administration’s plans to allow Mexican trucking companies to operate long haul in the U.S. While DeFazio was pleased that the Administration was engaging Mexico to begin to lift the tariffs Mexico imposed on certain U.S. goods, he is concerned that the U.S. is not launching a pilot program, but rather starting the full liberalization of cross-border trucking.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
Also Opposes Obama Budget Proposal to Buy EOBRs for Mexican Trucks
In his letter, DeFazio also strongly opposes the Administration’s budget proposal which would allow the use of Highway Trust Fund dollars to pay for the Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBRs) for Mexican trucks in the cross-border program. According to DeFazio, this would require U.S. taxpayers to subsidize Mexican truck compliance with U.S. safety standards and regulations.
1Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Highways and Transit Subcommittee. DeFazio has opposed previous attempts by the Department of Transportation to open the U.S.-Mexico border to truck traffic.
2Copies of DeFazio’s letter were also sent to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator and the U.S. Trade Representative.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/22/11 news, 11032220, for BP summary of the response of the U.S. Trade Representative to Congressional questions about the U.S.-Mexico trucking agreement.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/04/11 news, 11030429, for BP summary of agreement by U.S. and Mexican presidents on trucking.)