An ‘eye for an eye’: Mexican president threatens to close border to U.S. trucks

MEXICO CITY (Aug. 6, 2001) — Mexican President Vicente Fox said that if the United States continues to close its borders to Mexican trucks, Mexico would close its borders to U.S. trucks, reported Mexico City daily la Reforma.

“What won’t happen are unilateral actions, that one has entry and the other no. That’s totally unacceptable. Mexico’s truckers can be calm in that,” said Fox. “There won’t be American trucks here while there is no equilateral deal in which Mexican trucks are also there,” he said.

Fox told a news conference that Mexico’s demands are fundamental to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Fox received support from Mexico’s National Chamber of Industry (Canacintra). Chairman Raul Picard said Mexico has to close its borders to U.S. trucking in order to maintain its image in the eyes of other countries.

U.S. President George Bush’s plan to grant Mexican trucks more liberalized access to the United States beginning Jan. 1 is meeting stiff opposition. Last week, the Senate voted for tough new safey standards for Mexican vehicles and drivers.

Currently, Mexican trucks are restricted to a commercial zone that runs up to 20 miles north of the border. They are used primarily for drayage. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexican carriers were to have expanded access to travel in the United States starting in 1995.