Mexican trucking companies, NAFTA, Methenex, and MTBE

[redqueen]

Recently I read that John Edwards says that the Department of Transportation should just put a stop to the Mexican trucking companies being allowed to haul in the US (despite lax safety regulations and the threat to American truckers' jobs).

The thing is, I don't think that's possible. If you go back and look at the case of Canada (Methenex) and California, it doesn't matter *what* your objections are, investor rights (in this case, the investors in Methenex... in the Mexican trucking companies' case, whatever companies are involved there) trump citizens' rights.

Has this case been overturned? Did it stand as I remember it did, in favor of Methenex?

Does John Edwards know this?

Do any of the other candidates? (Well, besides Kucinich. I know he's done his homework.)

[jmp]

1. What makes him think that the DoT would/could act ...

Against administration policy?

[redqueen]

3. God only knows...

but that the "serious" candidates can get away with making such seemingly flimsy statements bothers me to no end.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. The two standards of truck safety bothers me.

American truckers have stringent safety inspections for their vehicles. They have to stop driving after a certain amount of time on the road in order to rest (by law). They have to check in at weigh stations. They have emissions standards. They have to abide by traffic statutes and regulations.

And here the DOT allowing truckers from out of the country to literally have a free pass on all of the above. Are the trucks independently owned or will there be individuals without liability insurance? Will all drivers understand English which will be the predominant language of traffic signs and highway, safety, and street address signs? Will they understand how to yield? Use blinkers? Will their cargo be smuggled human beings?

[redqueen]

4. All those questions don't matter to me.

Because that's the sort of crap you get sorted out *before* allowing this kind of thing to happen.

If it's to be reigned in, it seems the only way to do so is to withdraw from NAFTA.