The Threat of NAFTA Trucking As of February 2001, the NAFTA Tribunal voted to force the U.S. to allow Mexican trucks access throughout the United States. President Bush could have refused to allow unsafe foreign trucks on American highways and instead had the U.S. paid a fine. Instead, he stated he would obey the dictates of the unelected NAFTA Tribunal. This outcome must have been agreeable to Mexican President Vicente Fox, who favors an increased Mexican presence within the U.S. Uninspected Mexican trucks will ease the transport of illegal aliens throughout the nation. In April, the Bush Administration announced plans to open the border on Jan. 1 2002. Below is a speech given by Rep. William Lipinski (D-IL) about the dangers posed by opening the border under long-delayed NAFTA provisions. Besides the safety concerns voiced here, access to all of the U.S. and minimal border inspections will mean more drugs and illegal alien smuggling. House of Representatives — 11/08/99 Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to continue the litany of charges against NAFTA. As we face the end of the millennium, NAFTA presents its own Y2K problem: January 1, 2000, crossborder trucking provisions of NAFTA are expected to allow Mexican trucks to enter free and clear into the United States. A close look into the situation makes NAFTA's Y2K problem quite upsetting. At a recent National Transportation Safety Board hearing on this issue, Mexico refused to send a representative. Canadian and American representatives appeared, but Mexico was a no-show. Well, if they happen to have come to this meeting they would have learned how far they are behind Canada and the United States in oversight and regulations. Does Mexico have log books? No. Does Mexico have vehicle maintenance standards? No. Does Mexico have roadside inspections? No. Does Mexico have safety rating systems? No. Does Mexico have medical certification of drivers? No. Simply put, Mexico does not have any oversight of their trucking industry, yet they want the United States to allow their unregulated, unsafe Mexican trucks which weigh up to 106,000 pounds, well over the U.S. limit of 80,000 pounds, to barrel down our highways and byways. In fact, the reason they did not send a representative is that they are upset that President Clinton dare hint that he will not allow Mexican trucks into the USA as of January 1. Well, Mr. Speaker, Mexico is upset that we will not let their mammoth 106,000-pound unsafe trucks and unsafe drivers into the USA. I say unsafe because of the less than 1 percent of Mexican trucks and Mexican drivers inspected at the border, over 40 percent have failed inspections and were placed out of service. In addition, according to a new report from the Department of Transportation's Inspector General, over 250 Mexican motor carriers have traveled illegally beyond the NAFTA border zone. Therefore, Mexican trucks and drivers have proved to be unsafe lawbreakers. The Inspector General concluded in his report that, “Adequate mechanisms are not in place to control access of Mexico-domiciled motor carriers into the United States.” To ensure that Mexican motor carriers comply with U.S. statutes, the Inspector General suggested that, among other methods, fines should be increased for illegal activities. Well, Mr. Speaker, under a House-passed bill, we have done just that. [Editor's note: Rep. Lipinski sponsored this bill.] H.R. 2679, the Motor Carrier Safety Act, increases fines up to $10,000 and a possible disqualification for a first-time offense, and up to $25,000 with a 6-month disqualification for a second offense. The previous fine was only $500 to $1,000 and even the Inspector General stated as such, motor carriers are likely to consider the fines to be simply a cost of doing business. Hopefully, the Senate will take up the measure that includes the House-passed provisions so that Mexican trucks cannot regard the now measly penalty as a cost of just doing business. Of course, Mexico is not happy about the increased fines and they and others claim that this is a violation of NAFTA. Excuse me, Mr. Speaker, but since when is a fine of illegal activities a violation of anything? Mexico violates our laws and they say we violate NAFTA? Clearly, Mexican trucks should not be allowed into the U.S. and President Clinton was right in telling the teamsters that he will not open the borders to Mexican trucks come January 1. Well, that might be the first right move President Clinton has made regarding NAFTA. He can make another right move by starting the process of withdrawing from NAFTA altogether. Until then, the horrors of Mexican trucks will just be another in the long litany of NAFTA injustices to the United States of America and to its citizens. — from the Congressional Record FURTHER READING AND INFORMATION: Introduction of Foreign Truck Safety Act, Feb. 14, 2001 Rep. Lipinski presents a bill that would require an inspection of any foreign truck that has not been inspected in the last year as a prerequisite for entering the U.S. The cost of the inspection would be paid by the truck being inspected. Yes, We Have No Illegals Forbes magazine reveals inner secrets of Mexican trucks as revealed by improved scanning devices. Public Citizen NAFTA Trucking Report This study details the safety threat. Public Citizen: NAFTA This page contains links to numerous studies and statistics about the lies and realities of the treaty. Mexico's Trucks on Horizon The San Francisco Chronicle explores the issue, including a sidebar concentrating on safety. 100-plus migrants caught after journey in semi-trailer Bigger trucks means bigger loads of illegal aliens, as illustrated in this Arizona example. Interestingly, the foreigners were not only from Mexico, but also El Salvador, India and Brazil. Bush to Open Mexican Border Jan. 1, 2002 Details are being worked out by the Dept. of Transportation. Mexican Truckers Offer Tough Talk More like threats, because the border is not opening immediately. Bush to Delay Border Truck Inspections Promises about prioritizing safety fall away for the globalization agenda. People-smuggling Rigs on the Rise Tractor-trailers become more popular as a way to enter the U.S. illegally. In the Laredo area, the numbers of illegal aliens are up four-fold over last year. Critics say safety will suffer if NAFTA clause opens border The San Diego Union-Tribune focuses on the ground-zero view from the Laredo border crossing. “Public safety advocates worry that Mexican truck crossings — estimated at 4.5 million — may increase by 3 million annually.” Trucking industry faces world of woes The slowing of the U.S. economy is evident in the tough times for the trucking industry. House vote blocks access to all states In a surprisingly large vote against the Bush NAFTA trucking plans, the House passed a bill that bars Mexican trucks from operating in the U.S. (6/26/01). The vote was bipartisan (285-143), with 82 Republicans joining 201 Democrats and two independents to reject the open-borders proposal. Increase in drug trafficking predicted Law enforcement already trying to deal with huge border smuggling are sure that large numbers of commericial vehicles will just add to the problem. NAFTA Highway The Desert Sun collects stories, interviews and graphics about the effects of NAFTA on the southern California region. The Costs of NAFTA Are Driving Home Columnist Phyllis Schlafly considers the politics of NAFTA trucking in a good overview.