IBC's Legislative Advocacy Update

Coalition Urges Congress to Reinstate the Mexican Trucking Pilot Program

As 2009 came to a close, U.S. manufacturers, agricultural producers, and trade organizations looked to the U.S. Congress to take action and eliminate billions of dollars in tariffs that are hurting their ability to do business abroad. In spring 2009, the Mexican government issued retaliatory tariffs on several targeted U.S. products after the U.S. Congress halted a pilot cross-border trucking program authorized under NAFTA.

Since taking effect, these tariffs have led to lost U.S. jobs, reduced international trade, and higher costs of business for U.S. companies, creating an uneven playing field during challenging economic times. As a supporter of free trade, the Dallas Regional Chamber opposes the decision made by the U.S. Congress to end the pilot project allowing trucks to operate across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Recently, the IBC signed a Coalition letter on this issue which was sent to President Obama and organized by the Alliance to Keep U.S. Jobs. The letter urges the President to “to rethink Mexican tariffs during [his] jobs summit.” According to the Coalition, “while federal [job creation] efforts will likely focus on a mix of additional spending, tax cuts and state assistance, we urge you to consider [this] chronically overlooked issue that is contributing to added job loss.”

The tariffs imposed by the Mexican government expired at the end of 2009 and must be reauthorized by the legislature in order to continue this year. The Chamber will continue monitoring this issue closely and will report to our members on major developments.

Immigration Issues

As an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, the Chamber has been monitoring the debate in Washington D.C. regarding an anticipated immigration overhaul bill early this year. According to the White House Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Jake Braun, Secretary Napolitano is emphasizing comprehensive reform as a “three legged stool” tackling enforcement, improved processes for current workforce verification, and finding a solution for the illegal workforce already residing in the United States.

In addition, DHS recently launched a new “I E-Verify" program to recognize the 170,000 businesses across the U.S. that use e-verify. E-verify is a government software system designed to allow participating employers to cross check an employee’s electronic employment verification records with the Social Security Administration and other government records. This “I E-Verify” campaign will let consumers know which employers are “working hard to maintain legal workforces and are committed to protecting employment opportunities for U.S. workers,” according to Braun. For more information, visit www.ice.gov.

Trade Issues

On December 22, the Senate unanimously passed H.R. 4284, a bill reauthorizing the Andean Trade Preference Act through 2010. This bill provides a system of trade benefits to countries including Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador and also re-extends a system of other trade preferences offering reduced duties on various goods from other specified developing countries. This bill was passed by the House of Representatives and is pending the signature of President Obama before taking effect.

For more information about the chamber’s international legislative activities, contact Jane Edson at jedson@dallaschamber.org or 214-712-1937.