September 6, 2007. 9:00PM EDT – PHOENIX, AZ. - The Border Trade Alliance (BTA), since its inception, has supported the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has resulted in significant economic growth throughout North America and especially in border communities along both of our international borders. The BTA has long supported efforts to grant Mexican trucks access to U.S. roadways and similarly supports the removal of restrictions by the Mexican government that prevent U.S. carriers access to operate within Mexico.
The BTA looks forward to the successful start of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) pilot program. Granting Mexican carriers access to the U.S. fulfills a pending commitment as part of NAFTA and will provide U.S. trucks access to operate in Mexico.
“Last year, over $330 billion in goods were traded between the United States and Mexico using surface transportation,” stated Maria Luisa O’Connell, President of the Border Trade Alliance, “DOT’s pilot program is another step toward increasing economic activity on both sides of our border with Mexico.”
The BTA strongly supports US-DOT’s actions to-date in bringing forth the proposed pilot and opposes any further action to delay its implementation. The BTA approves of US-DOT’s efforts to meet the additional requirements mandated by Congress as outlined in the Federal Register Notice issued June 8, 2007 (Docket No. FMCSA-2007-28055).
In March, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters addressed the proposed pilot program at the BTA Conference in Washington, D.C.
For further details on the BTA’s efforts for border commerce and communities, and BTA’s upcoming International Conference, September 24th & 25th in Austin, TX, please call (800) 333-5523 or visit http://www.thebta.org.
About Border Trade Alliance
Since 1986, the BTA has served as a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to the environment, border development, quality of life and trade in the Americas. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, BTA’s core values include a commitment to improving the quality of life in border communities through trade and commerce.
1 Comment
my concern for many years, mexican truckers have been permitted to come in to the US
with what they call “extensions”. however, many of these truckers are paid by the US
company, but are not paying federal, state or any tax in the US. Many apply as exceptions
for the hiway tax (form 2290) and travel in California. Will these truckers ever pay
taxes of any kind?
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