56 lawmakers send letter to LaHood, Kirk urging resolution of Mexico truck dispute
The Reuters agency report did not name any of the Congressmen who had signed the letter, so it could not be immediately determined whether the letter was the effort of two California Congressmen whom The Trucker reported last month were spearheading efforts for such a letter. (Associated Press)
By LYNDON FINNEY
The Trucker Staff
3/4/2010
WASHINGTON — A group of 56 lawmakers urged President Barack Obama's administration on Wednesday to resolve quickly a dispute with Mexico over cross border trucking that they say has damaged bilateral trade, the news agency Reuters reported late Wednesday.
"The current situation is unsustainable and untenable," the lawmakers said in a letter to Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
"Our constituents need help immediately and we implore you to work quickly to implement a solution that ensures safety and normalizes trade. Please communicate your plans for a solution so we are better able to understand the administration's strategy," the lawmakers said.
The Reuters agency report did not name any of the Congressmen who had signed the letter, so it could not be immediately determined whether the letter was the effort of two California Congressmen whom The Trucker reported last month were spearheading efforts for such a letter.
It was reported on Feb. 5 that the two Congressmen, both with constituencies deeply involved in agriculture, had drafted a letter to LaHood and Kirk that would ask the Obama administration to find a solution for the Mexican truck dispute that resulted in Mexico imposing tariffs on U.S. exports to that country.
The Trucker reported that Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., have written colleagues are asking colleagues to sign the letter before it is finalized and sent to LaHood and Kirk, The Trucker has learned.
Congress terminated funding in the fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill for a pilot program that allowed trucks from Mexico into the U.S. to deliver loads beyond the commercial trade zone and trucks from the U.S. to do the same in Mexico.
The plea came nearly one year after Mexico slapped retaliatory duties on a long list of U.S. exports, including fruit and industrial goods, worth an estimated $2.4 billion.
Mexico took the action after U.S. lawmakers, citing safety and security concerns, canceled funding for a test program begun by the Bush administration that allowed Mexican long-haul trucks to circulate in the United States.
Kirk was asked about the issue on Wednesday at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Obama's 2010 trade agenda.
"We'd like to find a way to come up with an acceptable program so we can move forward," Kirk said.
"I know it is having a very negative impact, particularly on many of agricultural industries in California and Washington and Texas," Kirk added. "We want to get it resolved."
Cardoza and Larsen noted the impact of the tariffs when they announced they had drafted the letter.
“Despite repeated letters and communication with the Administration, the Department of Transportation has not moved forward to develop a plan that would remove these burdensome tariffs from the backs of our domestic businesses and farmers,” the letter to their colleagues said.
Lyndon Finney of The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.