Official: Obama, Mexican President Reach Trucking Agreement

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday will announce a plan to open up U.S. highways to Mexican trucks, removing a longstanding roadblock to improved relations between the North American allies.

An Obama administration official said the two leaders have agreed to a phased-in plan that would authorize both Mexican and U.S. long-haul carriers to engage in cross-border operations, provided that the Mexican trucks meet U.S. safety standards. Both countries were given this authority under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, but the U.S. has refused to allow Mexican trucks access amid concerns over its ability to meet America’s stringent safety and environmental standards.

Mexico has placed higher tariffs on dozens of U.S. products in response to the unresolved dispute. The official said Mexico will agree to lift those tariffs in phases, with all tariffs lifted once the first Mexican carrier receives authorization to travel on U.S. roads.

Negotiating teams are still working out final details of the plan, and are expected to send an agreement to Congress this spring, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the plan ahead of Obama’s public statement.

Read more: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/mar/03/official-obama-mexican-president-reach-trucking-ag/

[Populist_Prole]

1. Wunnerful. More NAFTA fallout

I guess our own truckers aren't "competitive" enough.

Remember folks: Saftey first! ( unless it costs money )

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. "removing a longstanding roadblock to..."

Letting US companies bypass American truckers and getting their shit into this country cheaper.

They bypass American ports and longshore, bring the stuff into Mexico on the cheap, and now will transport it into our country on the cheap.

Fuck you, Clinton for bringing us this crap and the same to a certain person for continuing it.

[Bardley]

10. Bush SR = Clinton = Bush JR = Obama

"Fuck you, Clinton for bringing us this crap and the same to a certain person for continuing it."

there are those who see it and those who are blind

[Hell Hath No Fury]

16. Same ol' same ol' --

just with new and improved packaging. :(

[lunasun]

28. Obama helped rid us of DADT + shoulda axed this clinton NAFTA crap too

I dont even wanna see what comes next on the president evolutionary line it could be so bad

[Holly_Hobby]

3. Did he just lose the Teamsters vote? n/t

[BlueJac]

4. Can Obama screw American workers any more?

[somone]

6. Indeed

[emilyg]

21. Wait - just wait. Give him time.

[fasttense]

5. Breaking the backs of the UNIONS one Agreement at a time.

Heck of a job Obama.

[amandabeech]

32. This also hurts non-unionized truckers and independent owner-operators.

Let's not forget them. They have to feed their families, too.

I'm wondering just who the President actually cares about.

The few who will gain and who already have more than they can count or the many who will lose?

It just doesn't seem to matter to him at all. I just really feel helpless, and maybe that's the what the President and his friends really want.

[Bardley]

7. Obama 'Changed' into the Emperor's New Clothes

and you might be a fool, a racist or unfit for your position, if you cant see them

so you better keep quiet

[Vinee]

24. _______

In all fairness, he was probably getting cold wearing nothing but his old empty suit.

[Bardley]

8. I saw his position on H-1b visas in 2007

all I needed to know

NOTHING he has done has surprised me, nothing at all

[somone]

11. Bingo!

For those curious:

http://pradeepc.net/blog/2007/11/26/barack-obama-on-h1b-and-immigration/

Barack Obama on H1B and Immigration
Michael Arrington interviews democrat senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama.

MA: What is your position on H1B visas in general? Do you believe the number of H1B visas should be increased?

BO: Highly skilled immigrants have contributed significantly to our domestic technology industry. But we have a skills shortage, not a worker shortage. There are plenty of Americans who could be filling tech jobs given the proper training. I am committed to investing in communities and people who have not had an opportunity to work and participate in the Internet economy as anything other than consumers. Most H-1B new arrivals, for example, have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent abroad (42.5%). They are not all PhDs. We can and should produce more Americans with bachelor’s degrees that lead to jobs in technology. A report of the National Science Foundation (NSF) reveals that blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans as a whole comprise more that 25% of the population but earn, as a whole, 16% of the bachelor degrees, 11% of the master’s degrees, and 5% of the doctorate degrees in science and engineering. We can do better than that and go a long way toward meeting industry’s need for skilled workers with Americans. Until we have achieved that, I will support a temporary increase in the H-1B visa program as a stopgap measure until we can reform our immigration system comprehensively. I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes improvement in our visa programs, including our legal permanent resident visa programs and temporary programs including the H-1B program, to attract some of the world’s most talented people to America. We should allow immigrants who earn their degrees in the U.S. to stay, work, and become Americans over time. As part of our comprehensive reform, we should examine our ability to replace a stopgap increase in the number of H1B visas with an increase in the number of permanent visas we issue to foreign skilled workers. I will also work to ensure immigrant workers are less dependent on their employers for their right to stay in the country and would hold accountable employers who abuse the system and their workers.

[Bardley]

12. thanks for footnoting that

how can people possibly be so blind?

the warning couldnt have possibly been more clear

[Bardley]

9. Every time he grinds his heel in the back or the middle/working class

he has some lofty BS to say

[inwiththenew]

13. There goes another profession down the tubes

Truck driving was a profession that you could make a livable wage doing $40-$50k+ per year, after some experience. Now they will bring in these drivers and pay them half of that.

[Bardley]

18. and combined with gas prices, it may go very quickly

it's stunning how fast tech as a career was destroyed by h-1b visas

[NCarolinawoman]

14. So will the environmental and safety regulation be enforced immediately, or

are they going to sort of phase that in gradually, as well? Who will oversee the enforcement?
:eyes:

[Bardley]

19. it will get the same level of enforcement as the border does

LOL!!!!!!

[Shaman Omaha]

15. What about drug testing the drivers?

The only change you can believe in with Obama is change for the worse!

How can we talk about this subject without appearing racist? I am going to try. What are the statistics on fatal accidents involving trucks driven by drivers with Mexican surnames?

The AP article says that the Mexican trucks must adhere to U.S. standards. That's what it says. I recall reading at the time the NAFTA agreement was first proposed that U.S. inspectors had turned away Mexican trucks that had no functioning brakes whatsoever!

Will the drivers be required to submit to random drug testing? What will happen to them if they are found with THC or methamphetamines in their blood? U.S. drivers lose their licenses and are required to go through rehab. In my experience, often Mexicans who violate U.S. laws just disappear back in Mexico once they are released on bail here.

As a California resident who will have to share the road with these drivers, I am very afraid of this change.

I hope we Democrats and liberals and progressives can find a better candidate of President in the 2012 election than Barack Obama. I will refuse to be held hostage to the argument that if we don't back Obama for reelection, the Rebpubasturds will automatically win. Given what's happening in Wisconsin, that might be a good thing.

[pampango]

17. eTrucker.com: Mexican truckers must comply with U.S. safety and environmental regulations

http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=86313

Obama said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Ambassador Ron Kirk have reached consensus with their Mexican counterparts. Mexican President Felipe Calderón said retaliatory tariffs, estimated at $2.4 billion, will be lifted in phases. Calderón said 50 percent of the tariffs will be ended when the agreement is signed. The remaining 50 percent will be dropped when the first Mexican truck is authorized under the new program.

In return, Mexican truckers must comply with U.S. safety and environmental regulations. The U.S. Department of Transportation will monitor driver skills, safety and language tests for Mexican truckers who intend to drive in the U.S.

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, U.S. and Mexico are required to allow trucks access to the other country’s highways.

In his fiscal 2012 budget request, Obama earmarked $50.4 million to “support cross-border inspections and the Mexican long-haul program,” which includes $5 million to begin multi-year improvement of U.S.-Mexico border inspection facilities. The House highways subcommittee pledged Jan. 23 to monitor the program to ensure truck safety and protect U.S. jobs.

[WinkyDink]

35. Tell me another one.

[4dsc]

20. Keep Mexican drivers off our roads.

I had nothing but bad experiences with these drivers that last time this was implemented. I don't see have very good results this time with many US drivers out of work.

[NCarolinawoman]

26. I have a relative who is manager of a trucking company. Even

before this, they were laying off truckers. :grr: This is idiocy and it stinks!

You're right about safety, but then the "bigwig government higher ups" don't have to navigate the highways like the rest of us peasants do. x(

[somone]

29. Most U.S. trucking companies are small businesses

Yep, this is sheer idiocy. It is a slap in the face to working Americans.

[Divine Discontent]

22. This is VERY sad to see. I read they'll get safety & language training, that's great & all, however

this is not going to do ANYTHING but drive away tens of thousands of Teamster votes, and other drivers, and frankly, I'm not so sure about the safety concerns of allowing this are going to removed just because the drivers will be given some classes...

This is not good at all. I am sure the very few friends of mine who are GOPers are gonna hammer me on this, since I bragged about the president blocking them from coming into the country in 2009, for safety concerns and for the protection of American worker's jobs.

This story has taken me by surprise. We will hear much more regarding this issue...

[amandabeech]

23. Once again, Obama ignores the effect of his behavior on the jobs of average Americans.

This will benefit Mexicans and the "Citizens of the World" who will donate lots of money to his campaign.

Jobs is my #1 issue and has been for a long time.

I didn't enjoy voting for him in 2008 because, with his economic advisors and campaign contributors, I expected about what we're getting. Nothing.

I know that the Republicans will probably be worse, but I'm sick of being taken for granted.

I pray that there will be a jobs-oriented Democratic challenger in the primaries who will either win or scare Obama into acting like a Democrat on this issue.

Too many people will soon have nothing to lose.

Apparently, no one one in the White House has bothered to study sufficient history to know that sometimes desperate people really do desperate things.

On edit: angry fingers don't always type correct grammar

[Bardley]

31. i think he understands the effects pretty well

he knows it pleases his masters

[hollowdweller]

25. Free Trade for Weed

Let them bring in weed and coca leaves

[1776Forever]

27. This has been an issue for years! I posted about this on DU years ago. This is not good!

It has to do with safety issues on our highways, wages for our truckers, and this will be a red flag in front of the Teamsters and I can't blame them one bit! This was a very bad decision and was driven by corporate pressure which once again has tipped the balance in the $$$$ signs. This will deteriorate even more our middle-class lifestyle and safety. The Walton's (Walmart) are popping champagne tonight!

:argh:

[Divine Discontent]

30. what you said! it's $$$ driven. And this is what you get when you appoint a GOP Transportation Sec.

:mad:

[DiverDave]

33. Well there goes my lower middle class status

I drive a truck and can barely make it with my wife working.
I guess I better get retrained...

[WinkyDink]

34. Bwahaha!! I suppose no TSA X-rays or pat-downs, either!! Hello, more drugs! And NOW is that "tin-

foil hat" re: the Pan-American Super-highway of a dozen lanes, sounding more like the G**D**** BITTER TRUTH??