Cross-Border Trucking on Clinton’s Agenda in Mexican Talks
Cross-border trucking will be on the agenda of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she holds talks Monday with Mexican officials, Bloomberg reported.
Clinton and Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa also will discuss climate change, trade, immigration and other issues when they meet in Guanajauto, Mexico, Bloomberg said, citing the U.S. State Department.
Clinton will hold talks on rules for Mexican truckers who drive goods produced in Mexico to U.S. destinations, Bloomberg reported.
Mexican truckers have that permission under the North American Free Trade Agreement, but the United States ended a pilot program allowing Mexican truckers U.S. access in part because of objections from Congress that the Mexican trucks are unsafe.
Mexico has responded with its own trade sanctions, but Mexican Transportation Minister Humberto Trevino said Jan. 6 that an agreement is within reach.
Mexico is the third largest U.S. trade partner after Canada and China, totaling $324 billion for the first nine months of 2010, according to U.S. Census figures.
It is also the second largest market for U.S. exports, making it crucial to President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports in five years, Bloomberg reported.
