Mexico OKs July entry for long-haul U.S. trucks

By Paul M. Krawzak and Diane Lindquist

COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

May 3, 2007

WASHINGTON – U.S. trucks will be allowed to cross into Mexico starting July 15 – months earlier than previously expected – as part of a controversial cross-border trucking initiative.

For the first time, the announcement by Mexican officials provides a start date for a long-delayed, one-year experiment to open the U.S.-Mexico border to long-haul truck traffic. The program is a prelude to opening the border to truck traffic as required by the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Amid criticism that it was unfair to allow Mexican drivers to cross the border before their U.S. counterparts, U.S. officials said earlier this week that they were delaying the program until Mexico was ready to allow U.S. trucks to cross.