U.S. – Mexico cross-border trucking agreement
By: Adina Moloman
Sources: Reuters, BBC News
After nearly 17 years, the U.S. and Mexico have agreed over a pilot program that will end the dispute over cross-border trucking that subjected the U.S. to billings in punitive tariffs.
In March, President Obama and Mexican president, Felipe Calderón, signed an agreement that provides for Mexican trucking companies to gain certification as safe to operate on U.S. highways. Under the terms of the final deal, signed by their respective transportation secretaries, both sides agreed this month July, 2011) to drop their barriers for a trial period of three years. Mexico will suspend half of the subject tariffs within 10 days. The rest will be eliminated when the first Mexican trucking company is allowed to deliver goods into the U.S. More