NAFTA Isn’t a One-Way Street

Congress and President Clinton are caving to pressure from the Teamsters union in backing legislation to ban Mexican trucks from U.S. highways. The ban would be a huge prize for truckers who feel threatened by competition from Mexico, but it would violate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The Teamsters have twice succeeded in keeping U.S. highways closed to Mexican trucks, arguing that the vehicles are unsafe. Safety is, indeed, a serious concern for all trucks. However, Canadian trucks have been allowed into the United States since 1982 and must be U.S. licensed, meet the same safety and environmental norms as American trucks and be adequately insured. The drivers keep log books, undergo roadside inspections and comply with driving time limits. Mexican truckers have agreed to submit to the same strictures. If Mexican trucks are allowed freely into the U.S., Mexico has agreed under NAFTA to open its roads to U.S. trucks.

Overall trucking safety on U.S. highways will be improved with a House vote last week to set aside $420 million over the next three years to boost the number of federal safety inspectors and tighten standards for trucks and drivers of any nationality.

Currently, Mexican truckers may drive only along a narrow strip north of the U.S. border. Goods destined to more remote U.S. locations must be reloaded onto domestic trucks.

The trucking issue is significant because most of the growing trade with Mexico moves on highways. The Teamster-proposed ban slipped through the House as a rider to the motor-vehicle safety bill and is expected to pass the Senate. It has Clinton’s support. The safety bill should be adopted, but not the ban on foreign trucks, which ought to be removed before the bill reaches Clinton’s desk. It is a blatant violation of NAFTA.