Mexico Threatens Revolving Tariffs over Lagging Truck Talks

Mexico is rattling trade sabers in an effort to get stalled talks on the cross-border trucking dispute moving again.

It is now threatening to slap tariffs on additional U.S. goods to convince as many states as possible to pressure the Obama administration into allowing Mexican trucks full access to American highways.

Speaking to reporters at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Yokohama, Japan, Mexican Economy Minister Bruno Ferrari said the Obama administration had been slow to deliver a promised new proposal to resolve the issue. "I haven't seen any specific plan on my desk," Ferrari was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Ferrari warned that Mexico was prepared to take action on its plan to add additional products to the list of goods it hits with tariffs.

"The clock is ticking, so we are making all the analysis," he said.

In August, Mexico added more products to the list of tariffed goods, including pork, cheese, and other food stuffs aiming to hit exports from as many states as possible to pressure its main trading partner to allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. highways. Last month, Mexico indicated that it was not prepared to settle for another pilot project that could be cancelled.