New coalition urges end to trucking dispute with Mexico
Washington Ag Today July 24, 2009 More than 150 U.S. manufacturers, companies and agricultural interests announced Thursday they have formed the Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs. The group will press the Obama Administration and Congress to resolve an ongoing U.S.-Mexico trade dispute that has hampered U.S. firms’ ability to sell some 2.4 billion dollars worth of manufactured and agricultural products bound for Mexico. Mexico imposed up to 20 percent tariffs on various U.S. products when Congress terminated a U.S. pilot cross-border trucking program, in violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Among the products hit with the Mexican tariffs are cherries, pears and processed potato products. Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, cites USDA export data, the most recent from April, on frozen French fry exports to Mexico, half of which are usually shipped from Washington. Harris: “We have seen about a 1.8 million dollar drop, or decrease, from the previous year. And what is notable is that exports from Canada are increasing and exports from the United States are decreasing.” The Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs says the Obama Administration promised quick action months ago but thus far there has been no action. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network. ?
Among the 150 and more members of the alliance are J. R. Simplot Company, the National Potato Council, the Northwest Horticultural Council and the Washington State Council for International Trade.
