Mexico Wants Bigger Truck Plan

Mexican officials want a cross-border truck program that goes beyond the pilot program that the Bush administration launched in 2007, according to Bloomberg.

When President Obama visits Mexico this week, Mexican President Felipe Calderon will urge the U.S. to admit all Mexican trucks, not the limited number of companies that took part in the pilot, Bloomberg said.

According to Huberto Trevino, deputy transportation minister, Mexico sees an opportunity to get access for Mexican carriers in the U.S. because the Obama administration has shown a willingness to work on the issue.

Congress cut off funding for the pilot program when it passed the budget for fiscal 2009. Mexico retaliated with tariffs on U.S. exports that affect $2.4 in trade.

On March 30, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it would prepare draft legislation for a new truck program by the time that Obama meets Calderon on Thursday. So far, no such bill has reached Capitol Hill.