U.S. progressing toward access policy for Mexican trucks

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 12, 2001) — The United States failed to meet last week’s deadline to allow Mexican trucks full access to American roads, but U.S. transport and trade officials said they are making progress toward a full-fledged policy on the issue.

A North American Free Trade Agreement arbitration panel ruled Feb. 6 that the United States had violated the treaty by refusing to allow Mexican trucks full access to American highways. NAFTA called for Mexican trucks to have unrestricted access to highways in border states – Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona – by 1995 and full access to all U.S. highways by January 2000.

David DeCarme, a U.S. Dept. of Transportation division chief, told Associated Press that a timetable has not yet been set on when Mexico will get a complete policy. However, sanctions are “not really in anybody’s interest and not where we are going,” he added.

Mexico has a range of sanctions options, including imposing tariffs on imports.

Critics of the NAFTA panel’s decision have urged Bush to accept sanctions until enough inspectors and inspection facilities are in place to ensure the trucks are safe and until Mexico’s truck safety standards are on par with the those of the United States.