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Murray-Shelby Amendment on Mexican Trucks is NAFTA-Compliant

November 26, 2001



Murray-Shelby Amendment on Mexican Trucks is NAFTA-Compliant

Report Shows Senate Legislation Does Not Violate Flawed Trade Agreement

November 27, 2001

(Washington, D.C.) – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters today endorsed a study demonstrating that Senate legislation on cross-border trucking is compliant with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In August, the Senate passed a Transportation appropriations bill that included provisions for keeping the U.S. border closed to Mexican truck traffic until certain conditions could be met to ensure safety.

"Throughout the debate over unsafe Mexican trucks, the Teamsters have fought for safety," said James P. Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "Corporations have insisted on sacrificing our highway safety in the name of NAFTA. The Murray-Shelby compromise is sensible legislation. Those who would oppose it obviously care more about profits than the American lives put at risk."

The Senate Transportation Appropriations bill includes compromise language sponsored by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) that requires a number of safety requirements be met before Mexican trucks could travel beyond the currently permitted commercial zone. Their compromise was the main focus of the study performed by the Dewey Ballentine law firm for the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.

The Dewey Ballentine study found that Murray-Shelby is NAFTA compliant because:

  • The legislation removes the ban on Mexican trucks once DOT safety regulations have been implemented;
  • Mexican trucks are subject to the same regulatory requirements as U.S. trucks;
  • DOT certification of new inspectors won’t negatively affect cross-border trucking.

"The time for action is now," Hoffa added. "The House and Senate Conference Committee needs to move this legislation to the floor for final passage, our highway safety depends on it."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.