Time to End the U.S. Dispute with Mexico Over Trucks and Tariffs on U.S. Products

(Seattle Times – Kate Riley)

Mexico's tariffs on more than 90 U.S. products are taking their toll on affected manufacturers and producers. Meanwhile, Mexico says if the U.S. doesn't comply with the North American Free Trade Agreement and permit U.S. trucks in the U.S., a second round of sanctions could be imposed.

Nothing good comes from neighbors feuding. Bound by proximity, they must find ways to work things out.Nevertheless, Congress and President Obama did the rough equivalent of blocking the neighbor's driveway by ending a pilot project permitting Mexican trucks to bring cargo into the United States – a practice authorized in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Congress enacted and Obama signed in March a spending bill that stopped funding the experiment that, by many accounts, including a federal report, was successful.

Mexico retaliated with steep tariffs on more than 90 U.S. products, which is squeezing Washington potato and pear, apricot and cherry producers, among others. Read the complete editorial here.