U.S. Chamber Calls on Congress to Uphold NAFTA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Donohue called on Congress to implement cross-border trucking with Mexico – as the U.S. promised under the North American Free Trade Agreement – to protect our trading relationship, reduce pollution and promote economic growth.

"The United States promised under NAFTA to open its border to Mexican trucks and it's time we kept our word," Donohue said in submitting written testimony to two congressional committees holding separate hearings today. "We have no credibility calling on other countries to meet their obligations under trade agreements, if we refuse to keep our own."

The cross-border trucking system is archaic and convoluted, according to the Chamber's testimony. A shipment traveling between the two countries requires at least three trucks and three drivers – a U.S. carrier, a Mexican carrier, and a middleman between the two.

"Congestion, air pollution and higher consumer prices are the upshot of our current system," said Donohue. "Implementing NAFTA's trucking provisions will fix this system and foster increased trade, which in turn promotes economic growth and more jobs at higher wages for both countries."

Trade with Mexico has tripled – from $81 billion in 1993 to $246 billion in 2000 – under NAFTA, according to the Chamber. Trucking is vital to this trade partnership since trucks move more than 80% of the value of our trade with Mexico.

"Most objections to this trade agreement and its provisions are merely political favoritism – between the previous administration and the Teamsters union. Every truck entering the U.S. must meet every U.S. safety requirement," said Donohue.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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