Nafta Action on U.S.-Mexico Dispute Delayed

The North American Free Trade Agreement arbitration panel ruling on the U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking dispute will release its report on Feb. 5. The report, believed to find the U.S. violated Nafta by refusing to allow Mexican trucks to enter the country, was expected by Jan. 10.

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The arbitrators passed a Dec. 29 deadline to allow both governments to submit additional information after reviewing each other’s responses to an earlier report.

The latest in a series of delays is the most recent in a process that has exasperated the Mexican government, which seeks access to U.S. markets, and pleased unions and other opponents of free trade, especially those who oppose cross-border trucking.

In 1995 and 2000, the U.S. refused Mexican trucks access to the United States, citing safety concerns with Mexican trucks. Mexico complained the U.S. action violated the treaty and asked a Nafta arbitration panel to intervene in 1999.

For the full story, see the Jan. 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.