Mexican trucks on U.S. highways program on hold... for now (Ron Kirk)

From this:

The Obama administration will try to reinvent a program to allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. highways.

An 18-month-old pilot program that allowed a few Mexican trucks beyond a border buffer zone died when President Barack Obama signed a sweeping $410 billion government spending bill on Wednesday. The bill barred spending on the pilot program.

A spokeswoman for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Debbie Mesloh, said Obama has told the office to work with Congress, the Transportation and State departments and Mexican officials to come up with legislation to create "a new trucking project that will meet the legitimate concerns" of Congress and U.S. commitments under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Note that Obama's choice to head up that effort will the the U.S. Trade Representative, Ron Kirk. He's a very strong NAFTA supporter who's waiting to be confirmed.

Wed, 03/11/2009 - 16:57 · · Importance: 3