ATA Urges Clinton to Open Border

American Trucking Associations commemorated the third anniversary of the scheduled implementation of the trucking provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement by urging President Clinton to completely open four Southwestern states to Mexican trucks.

"The indefinite delay in implementing cross-border trucking services along the U.S. and Mexican border, as envisioned under NAFTA, has meant that trucking companies continue to operate in an inefficient transportation system, even as we face increasing levels of trade flows," ATA President Walter B. McCormick, Jr., wrote in a letter to President Clinton. "NAFTA’s trucking provisions would have fixed this sitiuation."

Dec. 18 marked the third anniversary of the date then-DOT Secretary Federico Pena shocked trucking in 1995 when he announced the border would remain closed because of safety concerns. Mexican trucks are allowed to operate in a narrow commercial border zone.

For the full story, see the Dec. 28 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.