- MEXICO CITY (EFE)- The Transportation
Ministry here on Friday urged the Economy Ministry to ban U.S. trucks from
Mexico in response to the United States' refusal to allow Mexican trucks
on its highways.
-
- According to the local press, Transportation Minister
Pedro Cerisola, said that "the privileges of U.S. truck drivers can
be suspended" under Article 2019 of the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA).
-
- In a Dec. 10 letter to Economy Minister Luis Ernesto
Derbez, Cerisolo explained the reasons for his displeasure with the current
situation regarding trucks.
-
- On Jan. 26, a NAFTA arbitration panel issued a ruling
favorable to Mexico, urging the United States to allow Mexican trucks into
the country, but the White House refused to accept this, citing safety
concerns.
-
- The U.S. decision, Cerisola said, "contains discriminatory
elements" against Mexican truckers.
-
- On Nov. 27, the United States gave the green light for
Mexican trucks to travel its highways beginning in 2003, subject to safety
inspection, proof of insurance and maintenance contracts with U.S. providers,
and the testing of drivers for drugs and alcohol.
-
- Currently, Mexican trucks are allowed on U.S. highways
only within a strip extending 35 kilometers (21 miles) from the border.
-
- According to Washington's figures, 4.3 million trucks
crossed the U.S.-Mexico border last year. EFE
|
