Ad hoc coalition asks Obama to quickly resolve Mexico truck dispute

The letter to the president said that until the issue is resolved,U.S. farmers, manufacturers and service providers will be hurt economically. (Associated Press)

The Trucker News Services

4/8/2009

WASHINGTON — An ad hoc coalition of some 140 business, manufacturing, food and agricultural organizations, today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to quickly resolve the dispute with Mexico over allowing its trucks to transport goods into the United States.

An 18-month-long Cross Border Demonstration Project ended last month, the victim of language in the FY 2009 omnibus spending bill.

With some exempted exceptions, Mexican trucks now are prohibited from entering deep into the U.S.

Mexico recently retaliated against a host of U.S. goods, raising tariffs on a number of products.

“We need to get this trucking issue resolved,” Don Butler, president  of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), said. “Although U.S. pork products were not included on the retaliation list, they could be in the future, and, more importantly, our trading partners need assurance that the United States will live up to its trade obligations.”

NPPC is one of the organizations that signed the letter.

The letter to Obama said that until the issue is resolved, “Mexico’s retaliation will continue to economically harm U.S. farmers, manufacturers and service providers and those who work in these industries. This is something our country cannot afford.”

To read the complete letter and the names of the organizations that signed the letter, click here.

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.