Mexico’s Fox threatens to bar U.S. trucks if border fails to open soon

MEXICO CITY (June 12, 2002) — President Vicente Fox said Tuesday that if the United States does not live up to its end of NAFTA and open its border the Mexican trucks, he would consider banning U.S. trucks from Mexico.

Speaking at a transportation conference, Fox said Washington should drop the “isolationist and discriminatory” restrictions that have blocked Mexican trucks from crossing into U.S. territory.

“The law says we’re right,” Fox said, adding that this country “will continue negotiating until there is guaranteed equality in transportation agreements” between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is optimistic that it will have everything ready to open the southern border to Mexican trucks by mid-summer.

Speaking at a DOT-sponsored North American Free Trade Agreement Land Transportation Conference in San Antonio last month, Michael Jackson, deputy secretary of transportation, said the agency is “on the cusp of success,” despite the complexity of making the long-delayed border opening a reality.

Officials have not set an exact date for the opening, but it it is expected it will be sometime next month.

The border originally was supposed to open in December 1995 under the terms of NAFTA. However, the Teamsters and highway safety advocates convinced the Clinton administration to delay the opening. Late last year, Congress approved legislation to finally grant Mexican carriers U.S. operating authority. That legislation called for strict safety precautions, including more inspections at the border, and safety audits and compliance reviews of Mexican trucking companies before they can U.S. access.

Jackson told the conference that the agency is nearly ready. A DOT report by Inspector General Kenneth Mead, due June 15, is expected to show that most cross-border truck safety requirements are set.

(with files from truckinginfo.com)