Mexico Trucking Issue Resolved or Not
Mexico Trucking Issue Resolved or Not. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.
In the last several months the U.S. government struck a deal with Mexico to end the stand off, relive the tariffs and allow the trucks to roll. But where are we with that issue. Washington Congressman Doc Hastings.
HASTINGS: So far things are working well. I think there’s one more step to have complete certification and what that essentially is is for the Mexican government to drop any hint of of having any reprisals. We have pretty much taken care of that here on the Hill. We were worried there would be amendments offered to the transportation bill and others that would send the wrong signals. They never materialized. So I’m very hopeful that this will be put to rest for good.
There was another factor in this whole picture and that was the Teamsters Union. They of course have been the most vocal about allowing the Mexican trucks to roll across the borders. General President of the Teamsters, Jim Hoffa said the federal government's claim that Mexican trucks won't affect Teamster truck drivers is "bizarre." Last week the Teamsters Union filed counterarguments in its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation's pilot program to open the border to dangerous and illegal Mexican trucks. The case was consolidated with a similar lawsuit by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Hoffa said quote; "U.S. commercial truck drivers must follow all U.S. safety regulations while Mexican drivers only need to follow selected Mexican regulations. The government is flat-out wrong to say Mexican trucks and drivers meet equivalent standards."
That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.