BajaNomad

they must be crazy, right?

woody with a view - 3-16-2009 at 07:28 PM

MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Mexico slapped tariffs on 90 American agricultural and manufactured exports on Monday in retaliation for Washington's move to block Mexican trucks from using U.S. highways.

Mexican Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz said about $2.4 billion worth of exports from 40 U.S. states would be affected and that his government would soon publish a list of them.

Last week, the U.S. Congress canceled funding for a test program begun by the Bush administration that allowed Mexican long-haul trucks to circulate in the United States in compliance with the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"We consider this action by the United States to be mistaken, protectionist and clearly in violation of (NAFTA)," Ruiz told reporters in Mexico City.

President Barack Obama's administration, facing its first dispute with a major trading partner and neighbor, promptly said it would work to create a new cross-border, long-distance trucking program between the two countries.

"The president has tasked the Department of Transportation to work with the U.S. trade representative and the Department of State, along with leaders in Congress and Mexican officials to propose legislation creating a new trucking project that will meet the legitimate concerns of Congress and our NAFTA commitments," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

It was not immediately clear which exports would be hit.

But a spokesman for the Mexican economy ministry said the new tariffs would not affect rice, corn, beans or wheat, which are the main U.S. farm products exported to Mexico and make up much of the average Mexican's diet.

"It won't be any of these products because Mexicans are sensitive to them," the spokesman told Reuters.

The United States agreed to allow Mexican trucks to start using U.S. highways by 1995 when it signed the NAFTA pact with Canada and Mexico three years earlier.

But Mexican trucks were confined to border zones where they had to offload goods to be carried by U.S. companies. In 2007, the U.S. government launched a pilot program that allowed a limited number of them full access to U.S. roads, while American trucks were also allowed to operate in Mexico.

U.S. organized labor, led by the largest trucking union, the Teamsters, along with highway safety and consumer groups fiercely opposed the initiative, a pet project of former President George W. Bush.

A provision depriving the program of funding was added to a $410 billion spending bill passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress last week.

Backers of the truck program, including former presidential candidate and Arizona senator John McCain, lamented the Mexican decision but said it was expected.

"Unfortunately, this is a predictable reaction by the Mexican government to a policy that now puts the United States in clear violation of NAFTA and was inappropriately inserted into the Omnibus appropriations bill," McCain said.

"We must take steps to prevent escalation of further protectionist measures -- actions that only serve to harm American business during these tough economic times," he said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office said they could not confirm which U.S. farm or manufacturing products would be hit with increased duties. Major U.S. commodity groups also said they were awaiting details.

The impact of higher Mexican tariffs on U.S. exports of farm products to Mexico would be "huge," said Bill Biedermann, an analyst with brokerage firm Allendale Inc.

"The market would take a very negative tone, and it could throw us right back into that bearish period of a few days ago," Biedermann said, adding that he believed Mexico was only positioning itself to negotiate with the United States.

(Additional reporting by David Alexander in Washington, Noel Randewich in Mexico City, and K.T. Arasu and Karl Plume in Chicago, Writing by Anthony Boadle, Editing by Paul Simao)

edit: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090316/pl_nm/us_mexico_usa_trad...

[Edited on 3-17-2009 by woody in ob]

DENNIS - 3-16-2009 at 07:41 PM

Mexico needs to understand that the Teamsters are stronger than the Congress of the United States and this cross border trucking crap will never happen. Unemployment in California, a major shipping conduit from Mexico, is near ten percent. Could anybody, especially unemployed truck drivers, understand why Mexican drivers are doing jobs they used to have in support of their families?
C'mon. What ever happened to the American Way?

oldlady - 3-16-2009 at 07:49 PM

You got a point there. Heck, no truck goes over the GW Bridge to Manhattan without a Teamster driving it, at least not if the driver is planning a return trip.

Ya think I'll be paying more for Best Foods Mayonnaise? Yeah, I thought so.

[Edited on 3-17-2009 by oldlady]

DENNIS - 3-16-2009 at 08:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by oldlady
Best Foods Mayonnaise


Is that made in China?

oldlady - 3-16-2009 at 08:36 PM

Isn't everything?

Leo - 3-16-2009 at 10:41 PM

except for tequila

DENNIS - 3-16-2009 at 10:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Leo
except for tequila



You only think you know that.

Bajahowodd - 3-16-2009 at 11:02 PM

Melamine Tequila? As opposed to reposado. Buy it at Trader Joe's.

DENNIS - 3-16-2009 at 11:04 PM

SALUD....that reposado stuff is so overrated.

Bajahowodd - 3-16-2009 at 11:11 PM

The tiff is mostly ceremonial. Something will be worked out. I credit the Mexican Government with their restraint.

805gregg - 3-17-2009 at 08:00 PM

There are a lot of trucks and Mexican truck driver I wouldn't want next to me when I'm on one of my motorcycles. Most are honest, sober, and drive modern trucks. I think a simple test and truck inspection, should solve any problems. As far as union's of any kind go, times have changed.

Mango - 3-17-2009 at 08:59 PM

It's funny, there is a large Kenworth factory in Mexicali. Maybe all Kenworth trucks should be banned too.. you know.. they were made in Mexico by Mexicans!

We've got plenty of "Mexican" trucks on the road already.

That's the trouble with you Americans

Dave - 3-18-2009 at 12:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 805gregg
There are a lot of trucks and Mexican truck driver I wouldn't want next to me when I'm on one of my motorcycles.


How many do you need? :rolleyes:

Pescador - 3-18-2009 at 12:18 PM

They allowed a temporary use by a small number of Mexican trucks and guess what, the safety record was higher that the American trucks. so the crap that they are throwing about the lack of safety is just a smokescreen.

bajalou - 3-18-2009 at 03:31 PM

A list of the proposed tarrif items from the Wall Street Journal.

A partial list of the affected U.S. products follows:

-Christmas trees

-Onions

-Lettuce

-Pears

-Soft drinks

-Strawberries

-Potatoes

-Almonds

-Cherries

-Mixed fruits or dried fruit

-Soy sauce

-Mineral water

-Certain red, rosé and white wines [up to 14% alcohol by vol]

-Sunflower seeds

-Shampoos

-Manicure and pedicure solutions

-Dental creams and floss

-Deodorants

-Pre- and after-shave

-Toilet paper

-Copy paper

-Combination locks

-Kettles

-Wireless telephones

-Batteries

-Sunglasses

And I agree that the so called "safety" issue is only a smoke screen.

The US is great for signing agreements and treaties and then ignoring and refuse to implement parts of them - even when the World Court rules against them. But of course, they want everyone else to honor them.

That'll show 'em

Dave - 3-18-2009 at 03:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou

Toilet paper

ckiefer - 3-18-2009 at 05:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by oldlady
You got a point there. Heck, no truck goes over the GW Bridge to Manhattan without a Teamster driving it, at least not if the driver is planning a return trip.

Ya think I'll be paying more for Best Foods Mayonnaise? Yeah, I thought so.

[Edited on 3-17-2009 by oldlady]


You can always make your own mayo! And if you're looking for a mayo substitute for your sandwiches, try avocado slices or spread. Either way you're in for a treat!

DENNIS - 3-18-2009 at 05:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
-Toilet paper



Mexico makes and sells it's own toilet paper. When it's not being used in the bathroom, you can use it on your electric sander. A multi-use item.

woody with a view - 3-18-2009 at 06:03 PM

KETTLES?

what WILL we do?

They'd Better Watch OUT.

MrBillM - 3-18-2009 at 07:42 PM

If the Mexicans get rowdy, the new owner of AIG (Barney Frank) will cancel all of their Insurance Policies.

In Barney's own words: "Dith whole Thituation ith Dithpikabel".