The Mexican government has called on Texas to stop even the recently scaled-back state-run cargo truck inspections at the border, which it said have caused long delays and millions of dollars in lost trade.
The inspections overseen by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) began May 2 at Veterans International Bridge in Brownsville and Free Trade International Bridge in the town of Los Indios.
“These inspections are causing delays of between 8 and 27 hours for the entry of international cargo transports to Texas, which mainly affects perishable products,” Mexico’s economy ministry said in a news release Monday. “Ultimately, American consumers are paying the costs of these policies, so it’s in everyone’s interest to restore normalcy at the border.”
The U.S. imported $18.7 billion of produce from Mexico during 2022, including fresh, frozen, and processed fruits, vegetables, and nuts, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The checkpoints launched by the Texas DPS last week are in addition to commercial truck inspections conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Normally, CBP handles about 1,100 trucks a day at Veterans International Bridge. CBP officials said last week they were processing about 400 northbound trucks a day from Mexico because of the slowdowns caused by the DPS inspections.
Texas DPS has said the state-run inspections are aimed at keeping the roads safe by making sure trucks are operating correctly.
DPS and officials for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not immediately return a request for comment.
While DPS was initially inspecting 100% of tractor-trailers arriving from Mexico, the state agency began reducing the number of inspections May 8, according to a CBP official.
“The safety inspections have not ended completely. DPS conducts these safety exams, but at a small percentage each day,” Armando Taboada, assistant director of field operations at CBP’s Laredo Field Office, said in an email to FreightWaves. “The issue we had is that they were inspecting 100% [of trucks].”
Despite the reduced inspections, the Mexican government said it will file a complaint with the trade facilitation committee under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement if the inspections are not halted immediately.
“These actions are motivated by an anti-Mexican vision that is far from the social, cultural and economic integration between Mexico and Texas,” Mexico’s economy ministry said. “Our country is the main trading partner of Texas, a relationship that represents an average of $231 billion a year. Thanks to the USMCA trade agreement, together we have developed supply chains in strategic sectors such as the automotive, electronics and hydrocarbons sectors.”
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Pedro Cardenas
When stopping at rest areas have seen some of this Mexico trucks how did they manage to pass inspection when the tires look really bad just think about it if they want to kill them selves then go ahead as long as u drive some of trucks that’ll really scare u ; now if you drive in Mexico you can see how their trucks look even buses how are they not required to inspect them ??? No way Jose
Juan de Vaca
Maybe they ought to get THEIR agents out there while the vehicles are queued and do a first pass inspection, it would allow them to make some interdictions of their own as well as the possibility to build and strengthen relations between border agents on each side of the border. Imagine putting your best foot forward instead of just barking at someone to do something
Leif
How many of these trucks are trafficking fentanyl, drugs, and humans? Mexico needs to stop the nonsense and become an actual partner, not a puppet of the cartels and China.
Jimmie D Hubbard
I’m Sure Mexico Has To Understand Many Drugs Flow From There And You Really Think it Should just Pass Thru Definitely Not Seeing There Not Doing Good Enough to Stop Flow. So Continue Inspection Sorry Mexico Just the way it is
Jack
Lol, yeah and just let drugs and human trafficking go, fix your own problems then we can lay off the inspections.
Peter Ely
Send Beto Orouke to Gov. Greg Abbotts capital and let him have a word with him about that.
Dave Jr.
Hey Dave,
What we really should do is stop buying drugs.
Yours truly,
Dave Jr.
dave
Every truck must be inspected and the load searched for drugs and illegal aliens. If it stops commerce, so be it. The southern border should be shut till Mexico stops the illegals and all the drugs.