White House Seeks to Avert Trade War Over Mexican Trucks

Henry J. Pulizzi reports on the White House. Looking to avoid a trade war with Mexico, the White House called for legislation to establish a program to allow Mexican trucks to enter the U.S. The initial cross-border trucking project was terminated as part of the omnibus spending bill President Barack Obama signed into law last week, triggering anger south of the border. The Associated Press reported that Mexico plans to boost tariffs on some 90 U.S. products in retaliation for the cancellation, which it says violates the North American Free Trade Agreement. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama understands lawmakers’ concerns with the trucking project but wants to address their worries with a new initiative. “The president has tasked the Department of Transportation to work with the U.S. trade representative and the Department of State, along with leaders in Congress and Mexican officials, to propose legislation creating a new trucking project that will meet ... (link)