Should the Mexican trucks be allowed to drive through the U.S.?
Watch pointyheaded scholars concoct a new case against the North American Free Trade Agreement. According to Eduardo Zepeda, Timothy A. Wise, and Kevin P. Gallagher, the conventional wisdom “that Mexico was the undeniable winner from NAFTA” is wrong: In fact the trade agreement has been “a disappointment” for our friends south of the border.
via Carnegie Frames NAFTA For Slow Mexico Growth – Hit & Run : Reason Magazine.
A new report by the U.S. Department of Transportation says that commercial trucks hauled 58% of the freight moved between NAFTA countries in 2008.Trains accounted for 15% of the goods moved, with ships 10%, pipelines 9% and air 4% accounting for the rest.The DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics issued the report as part of its update to the North American Transportation Statistics database.Nearly 11 million commercial trucks entered the U.S. in 2008, with some 6 million coming from Canada and 5 million from Mexico. That freight accounted for some $970 billion in value.The value of shipments moving between the NAFTA nations grew at an average rate of nearly 9% between 2003 and 2008, the report said.
“The Mexico Institute seeks to increase understanding, communication, and cooperation between the United States and Mexico through the active discussion of issues relevant to both countries. The Institute encourages the exchange of ideas among policymakers, scholars, journalists and business and civic leaders by analyzing the developments of each country in relation to the impact they have on each other.”
You can read their blog here: NAFTA « Mexico Institute.
“The cross-border trucking program is part of NAFTA and the corporate North American Union agenda of further erasing continental borders. If it becomes permanent and is expanded, it could lower wages and lead to more American job losses. There is also the potential that it could destroy small and medium sized independent trucking companies. Allowing Mexican trucks full access inside the U.S. is a safety issue, as well as a security threat which could increase drug and human smuggling. Republican Congressman, Ron Paul, had this to say about the pilot trucking program when it was first announced. “Rather than securing our borders, we seem to be providing more pores for illegal aliens, drug dealers, and terrorists to permeate.” In light of the growing drug cartel violence in Mexico, further securing the border should be a national security priority.”
More via Ending NAFTA Inspired Trucking Program Could Spark Retaliation | Dana Gabriel.
“The effects of a port in Sonora, Mexico would be an overall benefit to the Mexican and US economies with the state of Arizona seeing a great amount of potential revenues if chosen as a distribution hub for the goods. However, the public perception of such development may be a hindrance as politicians seek to promote the economic advantages while the “not in my backyard” attitudes of their constituents affect their reelection chances. In light of NAFTA and the need for economic stimulus by any means, it is my belief that Arizona will become a major transportation hub in the future with a direct link to the new ports in Sonora.”
more via SanTan Marketing Professionals: Intermodal Transportation Case Study.
A group of independent truckers has filed a three-page “friend of the court” brief to join the American Trucking Associations lawsuit against the Port of Los Angeles. The National Port Drivers Association is asking that the court enjoin the Dec. 31, 2009 deadline banning all trucks older than 2004 from port terminals unless they have been retrofitted with anti-pollution devices.
via The Cunningham Report – Independent Drivers Seeks Clean Truck Deadline Injunction.
The Blog of one of the biggest American trucking companies: Momentum Freight.
You can check them here: http://www.momentumfreight.com/
Free Trade Alliance San Antonio.
The Cross Border Trucking Coalition, based in San Antonio. In the link, you will find their goals.
Canada – Trucking and railing meat and livestock across borders.
More figures regarding the last reports on land transportation among the NAFTA partners.
As this article points out, surface transportation of the US with Mexico is declining.
The ChamberPost: Jobs Summit – Expanding Job Opportunities for American Workers Through Export.
A new post in the blog of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in which Patrick Kilbride argues against protectionist measures such as not allowing the Mexican trucks to drive through the U.S.
The attached information with the video:
John McManus of the John Birch Society gives you a fascinating briefing on the history of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and NAFTA. You may never look at world events the same after you learn some of these facts. http://www.jbs.org
NAFTA was the starting point for the SPP/Security and Prosperity Partnership and the North American Union (NAU), and the the NAFTA Superhighway/Trans Texas Corridor (TTC) is being built to serve the Chinese so they can unload ships using cheap Mexican labor and use Mexican trucks and trains instead of American port workers and American trucks/trains.
This is an edition of Conservative Roundtable, the nationally broadcast conservative television program hosted by Howard Phillips, and produced by The Conservative Caucus. Please visit our websites: http://www.ConservativeUSA.org and http://www.HowardPhillips.com
Visit our new NAU website for the latest information: http://www.NAUWarRoom.org
News: The closed-door 2008 SPP Summit was held in New Orleans on April 21-22, with meeting George Bush, Felipe Calderón & Stephen Harper. Government and big business leaders will further negotiate the SPP/NAU merger. Please call Talk Shows, Write Letters to the Editor, and post to blogs protesting the NAU and NAFTA. Email this to your friends!
U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO) lets you know how YOU can help stop amnesty for illegal immigrants, the North American Union (NAU)–also called the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP); and secure our borders. In a special interview for The Conservative Caucus, the Congressman urges YOU to take action to save our nation from being merged with Mexico and Canada and our borders erased.
The Costs of Questionable Policies « Sustainable Energy Partnership for the Americas.
A nice article regarding different US Policies by Sidney Weintraub.
Congress and Law: The Outlook for Commercial Trucking Under NAFTA.
A post arguing that changes in the actual status would take long to be notice.
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A post against NAFTA, claiming that it have provoke a great job loss for Americans.
The Guy From Boston gives George Bush his opinion about this NAFTA Super highway. Heard of it? It’s going to take more jobs away from Americans!!! Contains bad language.
Congress and Law: The Border’s Distinctive Institutions: Drayage and Mexican Customs Brokers.
An article about some circumstances on the border.
This Article explains the start of a study to seek alternatives to the trucking dispute. Rail transportation might be a good solution. From the Windsor Star.
Cross-border trucking spat costing U.S. businesses.
An article published in the web site: MySA business that explains the consequences of the trucking dispute.
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development March 8, 2007.
Blog About Hydraulic Truck Cranes For Sale » Dot Truck Inspections.
Here you will find the Truck program process since 1995.
Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is asked by an audience member in Lancaster, Pa. about his membership in the Council on Foreign Relations and his thoughts on the North American Union.
Obama denies any membership in the CFR and then goes on to deny that there are plans for the North American Union and the creation of a monetary system called the Amero.
The value of NAFTA surface trade in August was lower than in August of any year since 2004. Read more about it Here
Yesterday, October 19, 2009 the trade representatives from Canada, U.S. and Mexico had a meeting in Dallas. So far, no changes have been made on the trucking dispute of the U.S. with Mexico, even though they talked about it. You can read more here.
Two of NAFTA provisions are strongly debated the strictness of the rules of origin, and the cross-border trucks. NAFTA established a schedule to opened national borders to trucks. In the case of the US, by December 17, 1995 the border states should be opened for Mexican trucks, and by January 1, 2000 all of the US and Canada. Nevertheless, due to previous financial crisis Mexican trucks were very old, and strong concerns on safety were placed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT). The US DOT decided that until safety concerns were resolved Mexican trucks would only be able to operate in what is called commercial zones (Frittelli 1).
Safety concerns were sustained by the 45% of inspected Mexican trucks that were declared dangerous by the US DOT in 1996. Several other concerns such as American job loss, and low Mexican drivers requirements make the trucking provision to be postponed. Mexico formally protested in 1998 using the methods of dispute settlements established in NAFTA. The arbitration panel resolved that the US was in breach of the legal obligations contracted under NAFTA, thus the concerns of the safety of the trucks were not enough to relieve the obligation. President Bush told U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to start accepting Mexican applications by 2001, for long-haul operations. Nonetheless, Congress passed the FY2002 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act (P.L. 107-87) requiring 22 preconditions for Mexican trucks to be allowed to operate beyond the commercial zone (Frittelli 1).
The Secretary of Transportation declared in November 2002 that all the 22 preconditions of FY2002 Appropriations Act were already in placed by the FMCSA. Therefore, the FMCSA was prepared to start processing applications. Despite that, in January 2003 the Ninth Circuit of Appeals delayed the implementation of the program, due to the Public Citizen v. Department of Transportation case until an environmental impact statement was made under the Clean Air Act, and the National Environment Policy Act. The case reached the Supreme Court, who reversed the Appeals decision in June 2004 (Frittelli 2).
Border Trucks
However, the U.S. DOT Inspector General announced in January 2005 that the FMCSA was only able to comply with only 8 of the 22 requirements of the FY2002 Appropriations Act. It was not until February 2007 that requirements were met. Therefore, U.S. and Mexican Secretaries of Transportation started a demonstration project to begin implementation of NAFTA trucking provisions. To prove that Mexico-based motor carriers were able to comply with all American regulations, 100 companies of each country will be authorized to make long-haul trips in each other country. The participants would be heavily monitored to evaluate the program, including official GPS to address cabotage concerns (Frittelli 3).
All the same, with the approval of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28, section 6901) on May 2007, Congress added new requirements to the demonstration project. In September 2007, the new requirements were complied by the DOT and the demonstration project begun (Frittelli 3).
Still, with the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) in December 2007, Congress forbid the use of funds for the cross-border trucking program. Bush administration claimed that the as the program had started before the passage of the law, the program can continue. The unions and environmentalist groups filed suit under the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which oral arguments were held in February 2008, although the decision is still pending. Because of the low participation by carriers the demonstration project was extended for two more years in August 2008 (Frittelli 4).
Nevertheless with the approbation of the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-8) in May 2009, Congress mandated the immediate termination of the demonstration project. In retaliation, on March 2009, Mexico approved an increased in tariffs on 90 US products with an estimated value of 2.4 billion dollars. These duties imposed in consumer goods range from a 45% on fresh onions to 10% in toilet paper. Since the North American Summit in August 2009 negotiations are being held to resolve this issue (Alexander n.p.; Organo 50-51; “Joint” n.p.)
This is the information attached to the video, you can find it in youtube by double-clicking on the video:
SENATE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON MEXICAN TRUCK PROGRAM TODAY
Vote Follows Reports of Mexican Truck Explosion That Killed 34 People, Injured 150
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa urged the Senate to block funding for the Bush administration’s illegal Mexican truck program.
Hoffa said the program threatens highway safety and national security. The danger posed by trucks from Mexico was made clear by the truck explosion that killed at least 34 people and injured 150 in Northern Mexico on Sunday.
A vote to block funding for the pilot program is expected to occur in the Senate on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 11.
“Today is the sixth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil,” Hoffa said. “I don’t see how any patriotic American could vote to allow these dangerous trucks to cross our borders and travel freely throughout our country.”
“We don’t know who’s driving these trucks and we don’t know what they’re carrying,” Hoffa said. “Weapons that could be used in a terrorist attack might be in the backs of these trucks.”
Mexico TruckerCreate a free website or blog at WordPress.com.Ben Eastaugh and Chris Sternal-Johnson.
The U.S. Mexican Trucking Dispute 