On Monday, the US government granted a two-year extension to a test program which will allow long haul trucks from Mexico full access to American highways. The move from the Bush administration comes despite objections raised in the Congress and pending legislation to shut down the program.

The truck program has been initiated under the North American Free Trade Agreement which seeks to relax border restrictions for free movement of goods across countries. Traditionally trucks from Mexico have been unloading their goods at the US border from where they are transported to the markets by American trucking companies.

The pilot program which was kicked off last year gave limited numbers of Mexican trucks permission to ply US highways for one year. Conversely American trucks were also allowed in Mexico. According to U.S and Mexican government officials, till July 2008 around 27 Mexican carriers with 107 trucks as well as 10 American carriers with 55 trucks have taken part in the program without any untoward incident.

The truck program has been vehemently opposed by some unions as well as by certain highway safety and consumer groups. The continuation of the program has also not gone down well with some members of the Congress who intend to pass a bill closing down the program as soon as the Congress recess gets over.

-Kalyani Mookherji