Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said he was poised to open the border to Mexican trucks this summer after reading a report by DOT’s inspector general that concluded remaining safety measures are achievable by the end of August.

WASHINGTON — One day after sending Congress proposed legislation to create a Homeland Security Department, the Bush administration sought to reassure business that international trade would not be hampered by the focus on security.

President Bush's plan to form a huge cabinet Department of Homeland Security by merging various government functions quickly raised questions from lawmakers about how transportation issues would be handled.

Mexican President Vicente Fox threatened last week to limit U.S truck entry into Mexico because of “protective barriers and discriminations” imposed by the U.S. government in its still-pending plan to open the common border to Mexican truck operations.

The House passed port security legislation June 4 that would require the government to develop an identification and screening system for containerized cargo and require truckers operating in secure port areas to undergo background checks and carry identification cards.

SAN ANTONIO — A Mexican trucking industry official complained here that U.S. rules for Mexican carriers delivering in the United States are discriminatory, and transportation barriers between the two countries will remain unless the U.S. provisions are implemented in a more equitable way.

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico — Mexican carriers and brokers here say they don’t want U.S. trucks to cross into Mexico and compete against them in a business they have carefully cultivated for 100 years.

SAN ANTONIO — Top Mexican government and industry officials voiced strong objections to U.S. rules over Mexican trucks operating here, and at least one industry leader threatened to push for relief through arbitration.

SAN ANTONIO — An international conference here aimed at sorting out the complex regulatory details of cross-border trucking was disrupted but went on after Mexican officials scheduled to talk on customs and immigration failed to appear.

SAN ANTONIO – A top Mexican transportation official Wednesday objected to U.S. regulations governing cross-border trucking..