Mexico City – Cargo transport has been delayed for up to 27 hours because of new truck inspections being carried out by Texas at the crossing linking Matamoros to Brownsville, the Mexican government said Monday.
For this reason, the Ministry of Economy urged the state of Texas to stop such exhaustive reviews beginning May 8, which, according to Mexico, are “aimed at disrupting migrant smuggling across the border, an allegation that has been criticized by sub-governments”. do not conform .
He said in a statement that in the coming days he would take the issue to the Facilitation Committee of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada, which requires member countries to conduct clear, fast and honest customs and border inspections. Is required.
The controversy echoes a similar move by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022 that caused massive traffic jams at the border. Abbott has claimed that the purpose of these inspections is to prevent migrant and drug trafficking, but inspectors in 2022 reported finding nothing, although they did detect some security issues.
Mexico’s position is that drug and migrant trafficking is the responsibility of the federal authorities, not the states.
Abbott has often sought to gain publicity with high-profile anti-immigration measures.
“The implementation of these inspections is causing millions in losses for both Mexican and American companies,” the secretariat said, adding that the delays mainly affect perishable products. The United States is a major importer of products grown in Mexico.
“Ultimately, it is American consumers who pay the cost of these policies, so it is in everyone’s best interest to restore normalcy at the border,” he said.
In 2022, Abbott repealed increased inspections after a week of intense protests and fears of worsening economic damage. The Texan’s governor lifted them after reaching an agreement with Mexican border states that, he said at the time, outlined new security commitments.
