U.S.-Mexico Trucking Dispute Placing American Jobs at Risk

(Gary Shapiro — Huffington Post)

When Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon visits the White House on May 19, I hope President Obama takes time to mend the deteriorating U.S.-Mexico relationship, which recently soured over a trucking dispute.

Last year, the Obama Administration responded to union requests that reversed several years of policy and blocked Mexican long-haul trucks from crossing the U.S. border. The Administration’s ruse of truck safety flew in the face of a total lack of evidence and years of peaceful trade. Mexico responded quickly...exercising legal rights under longstanding agreements by slapping high tariffs on $2.4 billion worth of American products. These tariffs hurt many American producers, including farmers and manufacturers.

Reopening the U.S. border to Mexican long-haul trucks would lift the excessive tariffs placed on U.S. products. Such action would contribute greatly toward achieving President Obama’s pledge to double exports in the next five years. It would also help save and create some 25,000 U.S. jobs affected by the trading relationship… Read more here.

Note: Mr. Shapiro is President & CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association