Byron Dorgan: “Look, Mexico is a neighbor of ours to the South. We don't come to the floor, none of us would come to the floor of the…”

“Look, Mexico is a neighbor of ours to the South. We don't come to the floor, none of us would come to the floor of the Senate, under any condition, whether it is a trade debate or a debate about Mexican trucking, in a way that is pejorative with respect to our neighbor. But it is important to understand that we are two different countries and, in many ways, have very different approaches to some of these issues. With respect to trucking, we have not previously allowed long-haul Mexican trucking into this country. We have allowed a 25-mile periphery, or 25-mile diameter from the border, but we have not allowed long-haul trucking in this country from Mexico. The reason: There has not been a demonstration that there are equivalent standards and equivalent enforcement with respect to Mexican trucks and U.S. trucks. Now, we have built, over a long period of time, very significant and stiff requirements for long-haul trucks in this country.”