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Trade Organization Applauds Decision to Open Border, U.S. Roadways to Mexican Trucks
Phoenix, AZ June 10, 2004 -- The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) applauds today’s U.S. Supreme Court siding with the Bush administration allowing Mexican long-haul trucks on U.S. highways without conducting an extensive study of the environmental effects. In 2002 President Bush said that Mexican trucks should be allowed on roads throughout the country, however the issue had been stuck in court in a case involving the U.S. Department of Transportation vs. Public Citizen.
“Today’s unanimous ruling is consistent with NAFTA,” said Jessica Pacheco, chair of BTA board of directors. "The Supreme Court's decision will allow the U.S. to finally live up to the historic agreement it entered into with Canada and Mexico a decade ago. We in the trade community are pleased to see that there will finally be an end to this dispute."
Labor unions and other interest groups had sought for years to deny U.S. highway access to Mexican trucks citing environmental and safety concerns. BTA has long been at the forefront of this debate claiming that the environmental rhetoric associated with this issue is filled with misconceptions and inaccuracies.
"The claim that long-haul Mexican trucks are somehow unsafe to travel over U.S. roads is pure myth," said Pacheco. "The necessary safeguards are in place to ensure that unsafe trucks are not allowed on to U.S. roads," she said, referring to federal and state safety inspection procedures.
To the argument that this ruling will increase air pollution in U.S. communities, Pacheco said, "U.S. cities will not see their air quality negatively affected by this decision. The claim that Mexican trucks by the thousands will now take to U.S. roads fails to recognize that Mexican carriers simply do not have the business relationships established yet to take full cargo loads from Mexico to a U.S. destination and then return home with another full load. Driving around with an empty trailer doesn't make sense for U.S. carriers, and it doesn't make sense for Mexican carriers, either.
“Secondly, the trade community is committed to improving border region air quality. By seeking ways to expedite legitimate cargo crossing through our ports of entry, we can eliminate hundreds of idling trucks at our borders,” she said.
Since 1986, the BTA has served as a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to the environment, border development, quality of life and trade in the Americas. BTA is a leader and authority on international trade and commerce throughout North America. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, its core values include a commitment to improving the quality of life in border communities through trade and commerce and a commitment to work as a community-based grassroots organization.
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