Mexican truckers threatened Wednesday to call a strike if the administration of President Vicente Fox allows U.S. trucks to enter their country freely beginning in 2003.
The president of the National Bureau of Cargo Transportation (Canacar), Manuel Gomez, demanded at a press conference that the Fox administration declare a "moratorium" on the transportation provisions of the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Gomez insisted that as long as Mexican trucks are not allowed to enter the United States freely, U.S. trucks should receive the same treatment from Mexico.
The Canacar president warned that although a strike would have serious consequences for the country, Mexican truckers "cannot continue to submit to discriminatory U.S. laws."
"The last thing we want to do is paralyze the economy, since 80 percent of all merchandise moved depends on ground transportation," he explained.
Last month, the U.S. government announced the end to a moratorium and said it will open its borders to Mexican trucks starting in 2003, but with restrictions.
The trucks will only be allowed to enter the United States after passing safety inspections, obtaining insurance and when carrying maintenance records from U.S. firms. In addition, drivers will have to submit to drug and alcohol tests.
According to the Mexican government and Canacar, which represents 4,500 companies and 32,000 independent truckers, the requirements are "discriminatory."
Canacar statistics indicate that only 30,000 of the 140,000 trucks it represents currently meet the U.S. requirements.
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