U.S., Mexican Presidents Talk Trucks In Meetings

President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox wrap up a series of meetings today. One topic of the meetings was the issue of Mexican trucks gaining further entry into the United States.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Fox told reporters if Mexican trucks are not permitted full access to U.S. market, “United States trucks will not go into Mexico.”
Fox also downplayed questions from reporters that a recent move by Congress to put tougher safety requirements on Mexican trucks wanting access to the United States is anti-Mexican, saying such a stance was rather due to a “lack of attention to the subject.”
During debate earlier this summer, some opponents of tougher rules, mainly Republicans, accused Democratic supporters of the tougher rules of being biased against Mexicans, a charge that was denied.
Thursday in a speech before Congress, Fox called on lawmakers to resolve differences they have with Mexican trucks and NAFTA.
“There remain many unresolved issues that must be dealt with in order to achieve our common goals now as partners," Fox said. "One of these goals is an issue which this great body will soon consider and which entails an important obligation under NAFTA. It is the issue of access to the United States for Mexican trucks. For this, as in many other items of our common agenda, we need your trust. This will allow both countries to comply responsibly and maturely with their obligations to one another.”
Also yesterday, in a briefing with White House reporters, President Bush reiterated his stance that he will veto any legislation passed by Congress that imposes tougher restrictions on Mexican trucks and/or delays their entry into the United States.
Before taking their recess last month, both the U.S. House and Senate passed differing transportation appropriations bills for the new fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1. Both bills include new rules for Mexican trucks before they are allowed entry into the U.S. under the North American Free Trade Agreement the first of next year. Both measures differ greatly and must be reconciled before proceeding to a final vote in both chambers.