Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

ATA and AFTC Give Thumbs Up to CAFTA

The American Trucking Assns., Alexandria, Va., and ATA affiliate, the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference, announced support of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), citing its potential to increase economic opportunities for the U.S. and for ATA member motor carriers

by Staff
July 20, 2005
ATA and AFTC Give Thumbs Up to CAFTA

 

2 min to read


The American Trucking Assns., Alexandria, Va., and ATA affiliate, the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference, announced support of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), citing its potential to increase economic opportunities for the U.S. and for ATA member motor carriers.


“Expanding international commerce is essential to the continued growth of the economy of the United States,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “Otherwise, restrictive practices reduce the flow of goods and obstruct efficiencies in production, distribution and economic opportunities.”
ATA said CAFTA would level the playing field for U.S. workers, could boost U.S. agricultural exports by $1.5 billion annually and could provide 25,000 new U.S. jobs in its first year and up to 130,000 in a decade.
“Expanded exports and free trade are good business for commercial transporters of agricultural and food commodities because they increase U.S. agricultural exports and put U.S. agriculture on equal footing with its competitors,” AFTC Chairman Greg Owen said. “These comprehensive agreements will include all sectors of agriculture with no exceptions.”
Currently, Central America and the Dominican Republic enjoy nearly free access to our marketplace while U.S. access to theirs remains limited. Some 80% of Central American and Dominican products enter the U.S. market duty free, while U.S. exports to those six countries face stiff tariffs. CAFTA would fix this imbalance by immediately eliminating all tariffs on 80% of U.S. manufactured goods. The remainder would be phased out over a few years.
ATA said mutually beneficial trade under CAFTA would raise respective standards of living by providing people with more goods at less real cost, raising productivity and increasing economic efficiency through competition. It also would open new service markets, including for express shipments.

Topics:Equipment

More Equipment

Continental ContiTread HDL 5 EP
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseJuly 16, 2026

Continental Expands Retread Lineup With New ContiTread HDL 5 EP

New long-haul drive retread is designed to improve fuel efficiency, extend tread life, and lower fleets' cost per mile.

Read More →
Four men in suits on the National Mall with giant video screen showing capitol building in the background
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeJuly 10, 2026

EPA Proposal Could Ease 2027 Truck Costs and Buying Uncertainty

The proposal doesn't change the tougher NOx standard, but it would revise key implementation requirements that manufacturers say have driven up costs and complicated fleet purchasing decisions.

Read More →
Illustration showing Paccar MX engine with sketch illustration of DEF fill tank in background
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeJuly 7, 2026

Cummins, Paccar Ease DEF Derates After EPA Guidance

Updated diesel engine software gives truck operators more time to address emissions-system issues while staying compliant with EPA emissions standards.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
250 years of American transportation illustration with the Founding Fathers, steamships, and trucks through the years.
Equipmentby Jack RobertsJuly 2, 2026

America at 250: How the Truck Helped Connect a Continent

America was founded on revolutionary ideas, but it was built by movement. For 250 years, the nation has depended on ever-better ways to move people, products, and prosperity across a vast continent. No machine has carried that mission further — or more faithfully — than the truck.

Read More →
Mack America 250 Pioneer.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseJuly 2, 2026

Mack Unveils America 250 Tribute Truck to Celebrate Nation's Semiquincentennial

Just in time for the Fourth of July! Mack unveils a brand-new patriotic, limited-edition, red, white, and blue truck wrap.

Read More →
thermo king heavy duty trucking
SponsoredJuly 1, 2026

Enhance Fleet Performance with High-Efficiency Auxiliary Power Units

Drive sustainable cost savings while increasing driver comfort during short- and long-haul logistics operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of truck dealership with pond in foreground
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseJune 30, 2026

Rush Expands Gulf Coast Peterbilt Network With Louisiana Acquisition

The expanded Rush network gives fleets additional sales, service, leasing and collision repair support across Louisiana's major trucking markets.

Read More →
Shell Rotella SuperRigs 2026
Equipmentby Jack RobertsJune 29, 2026

Photos: Shell SuperRigs Light Up Bristol Tennessee

Kenny Ziglar II of Rawlins, Wyo., captured Best of Show honors for the second consecutive year with his 2007 Peterbilt 379, nicknamed “Scrapin By,” at the 44th Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition held June 25-27 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.

Read More →
Waabi-Volvo autonomous VNL truck.
Equipmentby Jack RobertsJune 26, 2026

Waabi, Volvo Claim Breakthrough in Scaling Autonomous Trucking

Waabi says its AI-powered virtual driver successfully transferred to Volvo Autonomous Solutions' Volvo VNL Autonomous platform without retraining or additional data, a milestone the companies say could dramatically accelerate commercialization of autonomous trucks.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
2026 Mack Pioneer
Equipmentby Jack RobertsJune 25, 2026

Why the Mack Pioneer Signals a New Era in Class 8 Truck Design

After a public-road drive through eastern Pennsylvania, one thing became clear: Mack's new Pioneer isn't simply packed with technology -- it's been engineered around the driver in ways that could redefine long-haul trucking.

Read More →