On the first anniversary of the shutdown of the Cross Border Trucking program with Mexico, the job losses are mounting for American workers as American business’s continue to lose market share from the LEGAL tariff’s Mexico instituted in retaliation for our failure to comply with our obligations under NAFTA. 57 members of Congress in addition to more than 1400 trade groups have called on President Obama, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk to get the issue settled. Secretary LaHood stated in a recent interview that they were close to a resolution to the issue. The tariff’s, the job losses and loss of market share are the fault of people like Teamsters President James Hoffa, OOIDA mouthpiece Todd Spencer and their stooges in Congress such as Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, and James Oberstar of Minnesota, who has strangely, stayed silent during this latest round of debate. Realizing the very real possibility of the border being open to cross country movers, including Mexican trucks, who have proven to be safe and compliant with US laws and regulations, Peter DeFazio is preparing a letter for fellow congressmen demanding a renegotiation of Article 1202 of NAFTA, National Treatment of Cross-Border Trade in Services. The purpose is to forbid Mexican trucks from access to the US and theoretically, remove the legal tariff’s which aare causing so much concern. The letter, which was sent to OOIDA for their approval, states in part;
“We believe the U.S. should renegotiate Article 1202 of NAFTA, National Treatment of Cross-Border Trade in Services, to eliminate the requirement to open our borders to Mexican trucks, This would remedy all the truck safety, homeland security, and unemployment issues associated with this long standing trade dispute. A successful renegotiation would also eliminate retaliatory tariffs, which are negatively impacting our export markets.”
Complying with our obligations would be a simpler manner in which to eliminate the legal tariff’s. The safety issue has been resolved, as Mexican trucks have been proven to be safer than their American and Canadian counterparts, according to FMCSA records and confirmed by retired Texas DPS Trooper Monty Dial. But alas, they’re still Mexican and we can’t have the dirty Mexican’s in this country now can we! The letter goes on to erroneously state;
“Removing the cross-border trucking provision from NAFTA will also prevent more job losses at a time when we can least afford them. Should the border be fully opened to Mexican trucks, the low wages of Mexican drivers will drive U.S trucking companies out of business. “This continues a disturbing trend of American job losses through outsourcing. The difference is that we are allowing foreign workers making foreign wages to enter our nation and unfairly compete for American jobs. Opening our border to Mexican trucks is a lose-lose for U.S. workers and the traveling public,”
Strange thing is, where are the job losses from the Mexican carriers grandfathered in in 1982? No one seems to want to bring those up, as their safety records completely destroys the arguments of the opposition. We didn’t lose any jobs when the cross border program was operating, there won’t be any losses when it is opened again. It’s simply more fearmongering and lies by those who don’t have the facts to support their agenda. MARK REDDIG CHIMES IN ON TARIFF’S The host of LANDLINENOW chimed in on his take on the tariff’s and as usual, they follow the opinions of his bosses and shows what a know nothing this person really is. Reddig writes:
Mexico does not have the same regulations. They do not have the same equipment, driver training, drug testing, hours of service, hazmat requirements, TWIC cards or any other thing U.S. drivers have to deal with. None of it burdens them; none of it runs up their expenses as it does for you.
It’s the same old tired bullshit from Reddig and OOIDA. And more lies to add insult to injury. They certainly do have the same equipment, much of it better than what’s on our roads now. Driver training, drug testing are all requirements to obtain a Mexican CDL. That is documented for anyone who cares to look. They have Haz Mat requirements also, but enforced in a common sense manners, and hours of services are specified by the Ministry of Labor instead of the Mexican DOT. However, all companies operating in the US require their drivers to maintain logbooks while in Mexico. Imagine that. And least we forget, Canada’s logging requirements are much more liberal than the US and we hear nothing about that. Oh right, I forgot! Canadians are white and speak English for the most part, and allow US unions and drivers associations to operate in that country. Silly me! I will give Reddig credit though. There was a smidgen of truth in what he wrote;
They say NAFTA means the border must be opened. But NAFTA says specifically that the U.S. doesn’t just have to open the border. It says the U.S. has the right to impose on any truck and trucker operating within its borders the same regulations and requirements it puts on its own trucks and truckers. In fact, the treaty even says the U.S. can impose stricter limits in some cases.
That is all true, but what Reddig and OOIDA refuse to acknowledge is that Mexican trucks, whether the legacy group, the commercial zone carriers or those operating under dual registration and authority, operate under the exact same rules and regulatory requirements as do US and Canadian trucks, And the US asserted it’s rights to impose stricter limits on the Mexican trucks by requiring them to pass a Pre Authority Safety Audit or PASA, before being granted provisional authority to operate. US and Canadian carriers are under no such restriction. They also required all Mexican carriers operating under the program to pass a level I CVSA inspection before being allowed beyond the commercial zone, and to display a current CVSA decal at all times. There is no such requirement for US and Canadian trucks. And in the end, Reddig declares the “tariff’s are illegal”. Perhaps he should study the issue more thoroughly before making such ludicrous claims. AND LEAST WE FORGET Todd Spencer came out with a whining letter calling on his membership to flood Congress with calls about the issue. Calling the US Chamber of Commerce, “Thugs in business suits” (wonder if he is confusing himself and buddy James Hoffa in this instance) he continued to try and spread fear of economic destruction for his membership, numbering 150,000 or so, by a small group of Mexican trucks. Apparently he doesn’t think much of his membership’s ability to compete against a handful of Mexican truckers, or perhaps he is depending on his perceived stupidity of his member base to help him push his agenda. Whatever the case, I think we’ll be seeing the US finally comply with a promise made to our southern neighbor so many years ago. And they say there is no racism inherent in this debate!
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