DOT 34-08
Monday, March 10, 2008
Contact: Brian Turmail
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

U.S. Transportation Secretary Peters Urges Congress to
Keep Cross Border Trucking Program Going

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters today cautioned Congress that now is not the time to halt efforts to implement trucking provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which is delivering economic benefits to U.S. workers, farmers, businesses and consumers.

Secretary Peters said a broad coalition of more than 69 U.S. companies and agricultural and business organizations support the project because of the benefits it provides to U.S. exporters who every year ship billions worth of products and produce into Mexico. Should Congress choose to end the project, Mexico has the right under the rules of NAFTA to impose fees and tariffs on U.S. goods that would surely result in lost business and lost jobs, she said.

“Whatever their reason, this is no time to let the politics of pessimism dim the promise of prosperity for hundreds of thousands of American drivers, growers and manufacturers. We should be looking for every chance to open new markets for our drivers, to find new buyers for our products, and encourage new consumers for our produce,” Secretary Peters said.

The Secretary said the cross border trucking demonstration project was designed to give American companies their first-ever access to the highly lucrative business of moving goods across the southern border. That access is giving growers and manufacturers a more efficient and profitable way to ship American goods into Mexico, she said.

“Our drivers and our workers don’t deserve a timeout from success and prosperity. So my message to Congress is clear. If you want to help American businesses thrive, support American agricultural success, and champion American highway safety, then keep on trucking with cross border shipping,” Secretary Peters said.

Secretary Peters maintained that safety is still the Department’s number one priority, and that a rigorous safety inspection plan and trained professionals are in place to ensure that every truck in the program meets every U.S. safety standard on the books, as well as additional safeguards.