BREAKING NEWS: U.S., Mexico reach agreement on cross border trucking plan

Negotiating teams are still working out final details of the plan, and are expected to send an agreement to Congress this spring.

By JULIE PACE
The Associated Press

3/3/2011

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday announced a plan to open up U.S. highways to Mexican trucks, removing a longstanding roadblock to improved relations between the North American allies.

An Obama administration official said the two leaders have agreed to a phased-in plan that would authorize both Mexican and U.S. long-haul carriers to engage in cross-border operations, provided that the Mexican trucks meet U.S. safety standards. Both countries were given this authority under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, but the U.S. has refused to allow Mexican trucks access amid concerns over its ability to meet America's stringent safety and environmental standards.

Mexico has placed higher tariffs on dozens of U.S. products in response to the unresolved dispute. The official said Mexico will agree to lift those tariffs in phases, with all tariffs lifted once the first Mexican carrier receives authorization to travel on U.S. roads.

Negotiating teams are still working out final details of the plan, and are expected to send an agreement to Congress this spring, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the plan ahead of Obama's public statement.

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