Mexico might rotate trucking dispute tariffs on U.S. imports
Washington Ag Today August 17, 2009 Despite the recent talks in Mexico between Presidents Obama and Felipe Calderon, the U.S.-Mexico trucking dispute is still unresolved. Washington state exports to Mexico like frozen French fries and fruits have been hit with the tariffs Mexico imposed when Congress ended a pilot trucking program for Mexican trucks. U.S. products currently subject to the Mexican tariffs could get a break if Mexican officials decide to rotate the tariffs to other imports. Chris Garza, who handles trade issues with Congress for the American Farm Bureau Federation says a shift in the tariffs’ targets is possible. Garza: “When this issue first came about and we were working this issue we told members of Congress that Mexico would retaliate and they didn‘t believe it, and Mexico retaliated. Now the Mexicans have threatened that they will rotate this list if they don‘t see resolution to this. Again, members of Congress don‘t believe it but we have definitely have been talking to the Mexicans about this and they are looking at their various options.” The tariffs could be shifted to agricultural imports like corn and beef. Garza says since Congress ended the funding for the trucking program a solution is going to need the support of Congress. The economic health of rural areas on both sides of the Pacific Rim is the focus of a new partnership between Washington State University’s School of Economic Sciences and the Korean Rural Economic Institute. Representatives from both organizations have signed a formal memorandum of understanding to create a teaching, research and extension partnership focused on rural economic development. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network. ? ?
