Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation introduced a new proposal that would allow Mexican carriers, or long-haul trucks, into the United States in an attempt to come current on a deal the U.S. and Mexico signed in 1993. While long overdue, this action is a critical step toward ending the unnecessary tariffs Mexico has placed on U.S. agricultural products as a means of retaliation after the U.S. terminated the first Cross Border Trucking Pilot Program more than a year ago.
The Lone Star State exports billions of dollars each year worth of food, fiber and other goods across its borders to countries that depend on these Texas-made products. This is why back in 2009 I urged our federal government to find a quick resolution to this dispute. Although today’s announcement comes more than a year after Mexico imposed its retaliatory tariffs, we can only hope our southern trading partner will receive the plan well and immediately lift these unnecessary sanctions.
Our farmers and ranchers face enough challenges, from unpredictable weather to ever changing and growing regulatory policies from Washington. The last thing they need is another unnecessary obstacle. I look forward to the two sides agreeing on a solution so Texans can get back to doing what we do best – providing the world with the finest quality agricultural products.
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