U.S. Seeks Trucking Deal with Mexico, Kirk Says

The White House is looking for a route out of a year-long trade dispute with Mexico over the elimination of a cross-border trucking pilot project.

"We would like to" have a new cross-border trucking program for U.S. and Mexican carriers, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said today.

"We will work as quickly and thoughtfully as we can to see if we can't come up with an acceptable resolution."

When Congress shut down the controversial Bush-era program last year, Mexico retaliated with $2.4 billion in tariffs on 90 U.S. products.

Kirk said the White House wants a program "that meets some of the concerns raised by members of Congress but also allows Mexico to step away from their tariffs."

"We have heard from U.S. agricultural exporters, particularly on the West Coast, who have been impacted by this, so we understand the sense of urgency," he said.

Kirk has also heard from truck drivers opposed to opening the border. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association wrote to Kirk earlier this month, calling calling him "irresponsible" for ignoring "immense safety and security" issues.

The cross-border trucking issue came up last month when Kirk met with high-ranking Mexican officials, Kirk told the National Press Club in Washington.

"We met with President (Felipe) Calderón directly about this," Kirk said.

He said President Obama tasked Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and himself to work with Congress on a new program.

Speaking at a Washington press conference earlier this month, LaHood said work on a new program was under way and would be completed "soon."

A major obstacle to any new program was removed when language barring funding for cross-border trucking projects was not included in the 2011 budget, said Kirk.

Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com.