MEXICANS' TRUCKS * Mexico - Mexican truckers planning to block border

The Mexican National Truck Drivers Federation is planning to block the border between Mexico and the United States in January 2008 if the program doesn’t come to an end


Mexico City,DF,MEX -El Financiero/Land Line Magazine (USA), by Jami Jones -December 19, 2007: -- The long list of opponents to the cross-border trucking program isn’t exclusively made up of groups and truckers in the United States. Motor carriers in Mexico are waging their own fight to shut down the program... The union of truckers is upset with the Mexican government for allowing U.S. trucks and truckers into their country... According to the translated article, the federation has approximately 200,000 members who Dip Rame says will clog the border, effectively shutting down all cross-border traffic. The leader of the Federation cautioned authorities in Mexico to remember the strength of his organization... As an example, Dip Rame pointed out that in early November it was only 100 trucks that blocked the road in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, preventing 3,000 truckers and vehicles from crossing into the United States...(Video from YouTube, by RealTruckers -April 09, 2007: "Mexican trucking pilot program" - The U.S. DOT is planning to provide Mexico-domiciled truckers full access to U.S roads)


* USA - If Congress axes funding, Mexico may block exports
Washington,DC,USA -Copley News Service/The Sign on San Diego, by Paul M. Krawzak -December 19, 2007: -- The Mexican government is considering blocking U.S. exports, such as pork and rice, should Congress cut off funding for a cross-border trucking program, as is expected to happen within days... Even if Congress ends funding for the contentious program through the catch-all spending bill that is under consideration, there is a growing expectation that the Bush administration will find a way to continue it in what some say would be an act of defiance and others say would be compliance with the law... Many have assumed the congressional directive would end funding to the program, but a former U.S. transportation official disputes this... Brigham McCown, a former general counsel for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, said the agency might be able to ignore the bill's provision...