US-Mexico close dispute over truck traffic

On March 3, the United States and Mexico reached a truck traffic agreement, allowing Mexican trucks to cross the US border, ending a nearly 20-year trade dispute between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters in Washington after talks with visiting Mexican President Felipe Calderon, US President Barack Obama said: "After nearly 20 years, we have finally found a clear way to solve the problem of truck traffic between our two countries."

Mr. Obama emphasized the importance of the US-Mexico trade relationship, and pledged to work with the US Congress and promote an agreement to strengthen cross-border transportation security, eliminate billions of dollars in tariffs on US goods, expand US exports to Mexico and create more jobs for both countries in the border area.

Illustration: THX

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which came into effect in 1994, member countries Canada, Mexico, and the United States are required to open their borders to long-haul trucks. But that provision has not been implemented between the United States and Mexico because the United States fears that Mexican trucks do not meet U.S. safety and environmental standards. Moreover, this is also a hotly debated issue because American truckers believe that such an agreement would destroy jobs in the southern states of the United States, not to mention harm border security.

Since 1982, the United States has restricted Mexican trucks from entering its border cities. In 2009, the United States stopped a pilot project that allowed Mexican trucks to travel 2,000 miles beyond the U.S. border, leading Mexico to impose "retaliation" on nearly 90 U.S. goods.

The US Embassy in Mexico says that free movement of goods between the two countries could save consumers more than $400 million in shipping costs each year. US Commerce Department figures show that trade between the US and Mexico is worth about $1 billion a day.

The US Department of Commerce said the agreement would open up many opportunities for developing cross-border trade. However, the agreement still needs to be approved by the US Congress.

Also on March 3, the US President and his Mexican counterpart pledged to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the fight against drug-related violence.

At a joint press conference, the US President pledged to boost US aid for training and providing equipment for Mexican forces participating in this war.

The Obama administration plans to disburse $900 million to Mexico later this year under the Merida Initiative, a proposed $1.4 billion, three-year U.S. plan to combat organized crime in Mexico.

The United States is considered the main market for drug traffickers in Mexico and the leading supplier of illegal weapons into Mexico.

According to VNA