Truckers rallied in Ohio and Texas Friday, protesting President Bush's likely decision to allow Mexican trucks across the border.

A recent arbitration panel ruling will require the United States to abide by a 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement provision or face sanctions. President Bush has said he is in favor of opening the border. (See "Countdown for Opening Mexican Border has Begun," 2/12/2001.)
In El Paso, led by the Teamsters union, about 200 protesters gathered in an El Paso park that straddles the border. Some carried signs saying "Stop Unsafe Trucks," and "NAFTA's a Threat to Safety."
Union officials said the U.S. Department of Transportation doesn't have enough inspectors to handle the Mexican truck traffic. They say in the past year, about 2,000 Mexican trucks crossed through El Paso ports of entry each day - but a single DOT inspector can inspect only 10 to 14 trucks per day.
Tyson Johnson, Teamsters international vice president, pointed out that Mexican truck drivers are not the enemy. "Flawed trade agreements that pit work against worker are the real enemy," he said, according to the San Antonio Express-News. "The Mexican drivers deserve a living wage and safe equipment, so that everyone may compete fairly."
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. also held an anti-NAFTA rally Friday. Held in Avon, Ohio, the rally was attended by U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).
"If you travel on Interstates 77, 75, 71 and 70, this issue affects you," said Brown. "On average, Mexican trucks are 10 years older than American trucks. In 1999, the U.S. border patrol was only able to inspect one-and-a-half percent of the 4 million Mexican trucks that entered the U.S. If President Bush opens the border without strengthening inspection in a real way, he will be responsible for the safety of Americans on the road."
Ray and Joan Kasicki, Cleveland owner-operators, also spoke at the rally and news conference. "We work hard to meet safety standards," Ray Kasicki said. "The decision puts us at a disadvantages as businesspeople and as drivers. Nothing good comes from reducing safety standards."
Brown and 13 House colleagues also sent a letter to President Bush Friday, calling on the Administration to take as much time as necessary to address the U.S.'s preparedness for an open U.S.-Mexico border. The letter also requests that Bush create a comprehensive plan to strengthen border inspections and ensure that U.S. motorists will not be endangered.
The rallies coincided with Bush's meeting last week with Mexico's President Vicente Fox.