Bush administration argues for Mexican trucks in court

WASHINGTON, (April 22, 2004) — U.S. Department of Transportation lawyers told the Supreme Court yesterday that the Bush administration should be able to open its southern border to Mexican trucks without having to complete an elaborate environmental analysis.

Lawyers argued in the long-awaited appeal that an air pollution study mandated by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco last year, interferes with the government’s ability to comply with the North American Free Trade Agreement, and make good on a promise to end a 1982 moratorium on truck traffic from Mexico.

Pressed by safety, environmental, and labour groups such as Public Citizen and the Teamsters union, the 9th Circuit ordered the department to conduct the environmental assessment before opening the border to Mexican trucks. The government has begun the study — which will be completed next year — while continuing to appeal the decision.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling at the end of June. Until then, Mexican truckers will still be restricted to a 20-mile commercial zone north of the U.S.-Mexico border, at which point they must transfer goods to U.S. carriers for transport to the rest of the country.

— with files from Reuters