Traffic at commercial border crossings between Texas and Mexico has grounded to a halt, with over 19,000 trucks carrying $1.9 billion worth of goods stuck on the Mexican side.
According to Mexico’s largest trucking group, safety inspections are causing wait times of up to 24 hours, resulting in a queue that stretches 14 miles long. The delays are causing significant challenges for businesses trying to manage their supply chains.
Last month, Texas implemented a renewed effort for cargo truck inspections as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s plan to combat illegal border crossings and drug smuggling. This follows a similar move in April 2022, which prompted protests from businesses on both sides of the border. The inspections were temporarily suspended, however, after security agreements were reached with Mexican state counterparts.
The measure “doesn’t help the region’s development and puts at risk tens of thousands of jobs in Mexico and in the U.S.,” the trucking association said. “We reiterate our call to the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy to exhaust all diplomatic channels and spaces for dialogue to demand that the Texas government put an end to this measure.”
On October 9, there was a four-hour wait for commercial vehicles to cross the Ysleta bridge in El Paso, Chihuahua, Mexico, according to government figures.
In 2021 alone, $443 billion worth of electronics, fruit, nuts, and machinery made their way into the United States via Texas-Mexico ports of entry.
The impact doesn’t stop there. Texas boasts over two dozen international bridges connecting to Mexican states, including Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Chihuahua. The significance of these crossings cannot be overstated.
While the press office of Governor Abbott, a Republican focused on combatting illegal immigration, remained silent when asked for comment, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had plenty to say. Accusing Abbott’s administration of a “very hostile attitude” and complicating migration matters with politicking, Obrador expressed that Mexico was preparing a diplomatic note to address the situation. He also discussed the issue with President Biden himself.
The ramifications of the 2022 Texas border crackdown were substantial. Former Economy Minister Tatiana Clouthier expressed Mexico’s intention to reduce reliance on Texas crossing points. As a result, plans for the T-MEC Corridor, which included a Texas border crossing, were being reconsidered and relocated.
Source: Transport Topics
