Washington State agriculture applauds proposal to end Mexican truck impasse

YAKIMA, WA -- Northwest agricultural executives are applauding the DOT's draft proposal to end Mexican tariffs which have cost apple, cherry and pear growers millions of dollars since it was imposed almost two years ago.Mexico placed 20 percent tariffs on cherries, pears and other products, and extended it to fresh apples last year.

The draft proposal announced Thursday to allow Mexican trucks to enter the United States under vehicle and driver scrutiny is the first movement in the trade dispute that began in March 2009 when the U.S. ended a pilot program created under NAFTA.

U.S. trucking industry interests, such as the OOIDA and Teamsters Union, have decried the proposal as both job killing and hypocritical of the DOT's continuing push for higher safety standards.

Mexico is the Washington apple industry’s largest export market. 

From Wenatchee World