Teamsters Reject Claim About Job Losses Due to Protecting U.S. Roads

(Washington, D.C.) — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today rejected the claim that the failure to open the border to Mexican trucks has cost U.S. jobs.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sponsored a recent study that blamed the United States for tariffs that were levied by Mexico. The Chamber alleges those tariffs resulted in lost U.S. jobs.

“The Chamber gets it exactly wrong on several levels,” Hoffa said. “First, it’s NAFTA that cost at least a million U.S. jobs. Second, Mexico imposed tariffs that are manifestly excessive, and that’s a violation of trade rules. It’s outrageous to blame the United States government for Mexico’s disregard for U.S. highway safety standards as well as trade agreements.” 

The dispute began in March when President Obama shut down a pilot program that opened the border to dangerous Mexican trucks because of serious concerns about safety. In response, Mexico imposed sanction revenues on $2.4 billion in U.S. trade. The retaliatory tariffs are estimated to be $427 million. The Chamber’s study claimed that the $427 million in tariffs are costing 25,600 U.S. jobs. 

A total of 118 trucks participated in the pilot program and made only 1,443 trips past the restricted border zone, according to a Transportation Department inspector general report. 

“It’s ridiculous for Mexico to claim that 118 trucks accounted for more than $400 million in trade in 18 months, and it’s just wrong for the Chamber to claim that keeping the border closed cost U.S. jobs,” Hoffa said. 

Mexico is demanding payment far in excess of the damage it sustained, which violates NAFTA rules. 

“If the Mexican government wants our border opened to its trucks and drivers, then it can live up to its responsibility to make sure those trucks and drivers meet U.S. highway safety standards,” Hoffa said. 

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