U.S. Chamber Applauds Decision to Uphold NAFTA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce welcomed today's unanimous Supreme Court decision that ends delaying tactics and opens the U.S.–Mexican border to cross border trucking as promised under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"The decision to open our borders is long overdue," said Thomas Donohue, U.S. Chamber President and CEO. "We have no credibility calling on other countries to fulfill their trade commitments, if we refuse to honor our own trade promises."

Under NAFTA, the United States and Mexico agreed to grant one another's trucks partial access beginning in 1995. This access was to be expanded from border zones to all states by January 1, 2000. Yet, the U.S. has kept its borders closed to Mexican trucks – and Mexico, in turn, has kept its border closed to U.S. trucks – since the Clinton administration charged that Mexican trucks did not meet American safety standards.

Today's Supreme Court decision, overturning a lower court ruling, said that the Department of Transportation is not required to undertake an environmental impact study under the Clean Air Act before opening the U.S.–Mexico border.

"Charges that Mexican trucks would undermine the environment or impact road safety are unfounded," said Donohue. "The U.S. government has the full authority to inspect – and reject – trucks that do not meet our standards. And, as today's ruling makes clear, the authority for our borders rests with the White House."

Trade with Mexico has nearly tripled – from $81 billion in 1993 to $235 billion in 2003 – under NAFTA, according to the Chamber. Trucking is vital to this trade partnership since trucks move more than 80 percent of the value of our trade with Mexico. Because NAFTA has already eliminated most tariffs and other barriers to trade with Mexico, resolving the transportation dispute is important in keeping the partnership on track.

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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