NAFTA and Truckers
This article discusses the ban on Mexican truck drivers crossing into the United States from Mexico. Since 1982, Mexican truckers have not been allowed to cross into the U.S. borders when a ban was placed on them and trucks coming from Canada. The Canadian ban was lifted a short while later but the ban remained on Mexico. In January of 2000, NAFTA was to reopen the roads but President Clinton stalled. He had come under fire by special interest groups who were concerned for our enviornment and the safety of U.S. truck drivers. Fear existed because the truck used by Mexico were older and not as well maintained as those used in America. They do not undergo as many inspections as U.S. trucks and are not subject to the same type restrictions. Many feared this would only add to the severe pollution problem many Texas cities were already struggling to control. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is now trying to put these fears to rest now that President Bush has lifted the ban. They feel strongly that any truck entering into the U.S. will have to undergo the same inspections as trucks in the U.S. do. Nothing more and nothing less. Every truck will have to carry the proper inspection and safety stickers. All drivers with hazardous stickers on their truck will be inspected to also make sure they are carrying the proper drivers license. The lifting of this ban has been seen as a huge victory for NAFTA. Now the gorvenment must do all they can to protect the health and safety of their citizens. They must be willing to make sure all polocies they are needing to put into place are followed and upheld.
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6 Comments:
At 8:55 PM, kylee45 said…
I agree that the intent of NAFTA was free trade between the US, Canada, and Mexico. This article certainly makes a valid point about the highway safety and pollution concerns of allowing Mexican trucks and drivers to enter. There are two points that the article fails to mention that are, in my opinion, significant. One, the security of our nation should be considered. The Department of Homeland Security should play an important role in determining whether it is in the best interest of the US to allow trucks to enter from the Mexican border. Does Mexico have strict rules governing entry of individuals at its borders? Could terrorists possibly be driving one of the trucks in question? Secondly, what about the American truck driver that usually picks up the load at the border? Will he lose his job? If so, will he be afforded consideration in some form of trade adjustment assistance (TAA) by the US? Quite honestly, this article presents more questions than it answers. The lifting of the ban on Mexico should not be an election year ploy but, something that first considers what is best for America and then NAFTA's other members.
At 6:17 PM, eagle13 said…
I completely agree with you. This article doesn't answer many questions we all have. Hopefully our government will put into place strict guidelines for entrance into our country for these truck drivers.
At 10:37 AM, priestdarko1 said…
I couldnt figure out how to veiw the article but I do have one question. Someone made a comment about terroist and homeland securiry, what about drugs. We have just given the Panama Canal back to the Panamanians and that is where the drug route from South America was bottle-necked. Now that that route has been opened, the U.S.-Mexico border is the last stop. Does this article mention anything furthering the topic of drug transportation through this border? Or how D.E.A. or any other government agency will work closer with border patrol and checkpoints to check for large shipments of drugs. Just curious.
At 10:38 AM, priestdarko1 said…
I couldnt figure out how to veiw the article but I do have one question. Someone made a comment about terroist and homeland securiry, what about drugs. We have just given the Panama Canal back to the Panamanians and that is where the drug route from South America was bottle-necked. Now that that route has been opened, the U.S.-Mexico border is the last stop. Does this article mention anything furthering the topic of drug transportation through this border? Or how D.E.A. or any other government agency will work closer with border patrol and checkpoints to check for large shipments of drugs. Just curious.
At 6:46 PM, Jennifer said…
I agree with the worries that the trucks would not be safe not only for others on the road but for the environment. My biggest concern though would be that it would being in more drugs into our country. We alreay have to struggle to keep down the drugs now I can not imagine the increase that we might face of the drugs coming into the country from both Canada and Mexico. This article was very infomative thanks for posting it.
At 3:00 PM, Ben said…
This was a very interesting article. I had not every really considered this issue. It does raise all of the questions listed in the above comments, and I think that if the government can put in place what they believe to be the best possible policy to control these trucks and drivers, and tweak if necessary, then it is probably a good thing that the ban was lifted. I guess time will tell.
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