A Bad Deal
Mexican Trucks Get Free Reign of U.S. Highways, U.S. Citizens Pay the Price
by Representative Barbara Cubin
10/9/07
As troubling issue after troubling issue bubbles to the surface regarding the relationship between the United States and Mexico, I am reminded of a line President Thomas Jefferson wrote to his friend, James Monroe: “A good neighbor is a desirable thing.” Perhaps not the most impressive Presidential quote in history, but in its simplicity President Jefferson uttered a sentiment that has been on the minds of many regarding the U.S./Mexico relationship. I have heard from thousands of Wyoming’s citizens about our neighbor to the south. Many have expressed profound opinions about the difficult balance between our desire to be a good neighbor ourselves and our obligation to our own national sovereignty.
Most recently, Wyomingites have expressed great alarm at the Department of Transportation's (DOT) pilot project allowing Mexican trucking companies full access to America's highways. In brief, the plan allows up to 100 Mexican trucking companies to deliver goods to any U.S. destination and pick up goods to transport back to Mexico. The DOT claims that each Mexican truck will be inspected, without exception, and that Mexican drivers must adhere to all U.S. safety rules. Additionally, Mexican drivers must be able to speak English well enough to "understand and respond to questions and directions.”
The DOT’s pilot plan was part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) adopted in 1992. These provisions were blocked by both Presidents Clinton and Bush as the safety and security of Mexican trucks could not be assured. Unfortunately, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that we must abide by all the NAFTA treaty obligations, the plan was put into effect this month.
Under the circumstances the DOT has done its best to make the trucking program safe for Americans. Those efforts, however, are not enough. At its core the trucking plan is flawed and it exposes a negative aspect of free trade agreements that are not also fair. In order to be fair, this sort of agreement should apply only to jobs that go unfilled by American workers. This is assuredly not the case with Mexican truck drivers.
I was not in Congress during the vote on NAFTA, which authorized the trucking program. However, I voted against the Central American Free Trade Agreement in 2005 because, like NAFTA, it required too much sacrifice on the part of Americans to neighbors who cannot, or will not enforce border security, protect worker safety, or produce safe, high-quality products.
In other words, we have been the push-over neighbor, handing out access to the largest consuming population in the world and sacrificing our own workers to do so. There are many examples of this capitulation from agricultural products to social security agreements to an open border. In the case of Mexican trucks, it is true that American companies now have access to Mexico’s highways, but such access is hardly a fair trade for the safety and security of our nation’s highways.
Some have argued that allowing this plan to move forward is merely part of our obligation to our neighbor. I am not opposed to the idea that the United States has an obligation to other North American countries. After all, an economically secure North America helps strengthen our own security and economy. As President Jefferson said, it is in our best interest to have friendly relationships with our closest neighbors.
I do not believe, however, that our obligation extends to compromising safety, security, and American jobs. Thankfully, a majority of my colleagues in Washington agree as both the House and Senate have passed measures that will halt the trucking pilot program. A good neighbor is truly a desirable thing, but we have capitulated too often without gaining a reasonable return. I am proud to say that on this proposal, we have drawn the line at last
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