[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 135 (Friday, July 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36819-36820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17571]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. OST-95-246]


North American Free Trade Agreement Conference

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice (1) announces a North American Free Trade 
Agreement (NAFTA) information conference, to be held at the Hyatt Hotel 
in San Antonio, Texas, October 21-24, 2001, (2) provides information 
about the conference for prospective attendees; and (3) identifies a 
dedicated website that will provide continuously updated information 
about the conference including registration information. U.S., 
Canadian, and Mexican government officials representing agencies that 
have inspection, security and other defined responsibilities affecting 
the clearance of cross-border transport operations will conduct panel 
sessions that convey information about the requirements that each of 
their agencies imposes on motor carrier operations.

Background

    The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created a timetable 
for the removal of barriers to the provision of transportation services 
among the NAFTA countries for carriage of international cargo and of 
passengers. For trucks and buses, NAFTA was to have liberalized access 
for motor carriers on a phased schedule over six years from entry into 
force of the agreement, and it provided for liberalizing investment 
restrictions on trucking companies established in Mexico and the United 
States. Liberalization was to have begun in 1995, but the United States 
postponed implementation due to concerns regarding safety and 
enforcement. A NAFTA dispute resolution panel subsequently ruled that 
the U.S. blanket prohibition on processing Mexican applications for 
operating authority violated the NAFTA. Since 1995, the United States 
has taken steps to augment its ability to assure compliance with U.S. 
motor carrier safety regulations. These efforts enable the United 
States to safely comply with the dispute panel's findings and move 
forward with implementation of NAFTA's access provisions no later than 
January 1, 2002.
    All foreign motor carriers operating in the United States are 
subject to the same federal and state regulations and procedures that 
apply to U.S. carriers. These include safety regulations, insurance 
requirements, tariff requirements, and payment of all taxes and fees. 
In addition, foreign motor carriers and drivers must comply with 
applicable customs and immigration laws and regulations. Under NAFTA, 
these compliance obligations are completely reciprocal so that U.S. 
carriers and drivers are similarly obligated to comply with Canadian 
and Mexican statutory and regulatory requirements while conducting 
operations in those countries.
    While U.S. and Canadian carriers have been conducting operations in 
each other's respective countries for some time, implementation of 
NAFTA's access provisions will mean that many Mexican motor carriers 
will be operating in the United States for the first time. Similarly, 
operations into Mexico will be a new experience for most U.S. and 
Canadian motor carriers. The many federal and state regulatory 
requirements and the multiplicity of federal and state agencies 
imposing them may be confusing and intimidating to these first-time 
entrants and could discourage them from attempting to take advantage of 
NAFTA's transportation provisions. For this reason, the Department of 
Transportation, in cooperation with Canada, Mexico, other federal 
agencies, and state and provincial representatives, will host a NAFTA 
information conference in San Antonio, Texas, October 21-24, 2001 to 
promote an understanding of the requirements for legal cross-border 
transport operations among the three NAFTA countries.
    Who Should Attend: This conference will be beneficial for 
commercial truck carriers, bus operators, customs brokers, shippers, 
and other companies and/or associations that have an interest in the 
conduct of cross-border business that will involve transport 
operations.
    Meetings and Deadlines: The NAFTA conference will include panels 
that convey information about: (1) Applying for federal motor carrier 
operating authority; (2) immigration requirements for drivers operating 
outside of their own country; (3) Customs requirements for foreign 
trucks engaged in international operations; (4) agriculture regulations 
applicable to imported commodities; (5) tax obligations for companies 
operating commercial vehicles outside their own country; (6) motor 
carrier safety standards; (7) hazardous materials transportation safety 
regulations; (8) vehicle weight and dimensions standards; and other 
requirements. In addition, state and provincial jurisdictions will 
provide information on their operating requirements. Other panels may 
be added as preparations for the conference progress. Representatives 
from the various agencies will be available following panel discussions 
to address questions from conference attendees. Finally, each attendee 
will be provided a resource book from each country containing 
additional information, contact names, e-mail and phone numbers that 
may be used to obtain additional information.
    Languages: All conference sessions will be conducted with 
simultaneous translation in English and Spanish. To the extent 
possible, agency representatives who address specific questions from 
attendees will be bilingual as well.
    Updated Information and Hotel Registration: To provide a continuous 
source of updated conference information, the Department of 
Transportation's Office of International Transportation & Trade has 
established a website for prospective attendees and other interested 
parties. The DOT website will contain an updated schedule of events, 
guest speakers, and agendas for the panel sessions as they are 
developed. The website can be accessed by going to the DOT homepage at 
www.dot.gov/NAFTA.
    The DOT website also has a link to the Free Trade Alliance San 
Antonio's website, where a registration forms for the conference can be 
downloaded. All participants are requested to fill out a conference 
registration form, which should be returned to the Free Trade Alliance, 
203 South St. Mary's Street, Suite 130, San Antonio, Texas 78205, or 
faxed to 210-229-9724. Registration forms and information about the 
conference, hotel accommodations, and the city of San Antonio can also 
be obtained by writing to the Free Trade Alliance or by telephoning 
210-229-9036.
    A block of rooms is reserved at the Hyatt Hotel, 123 Lasoya Street, 
San Antonio, Texas 78205. Interested parties can contact the hotel by 
telephone at 210-222-1234 or by fax at 210-227-4927. Further 
information about accommodations can be found on the

[[Page 36820]]

Free Trade Alliance website at www.freetradealliance.org.
    Address and Phone Numbers: For further information please contact 
Eddie Carazo, U.S. Department of Transportation, OST/X-20, Room 10300, 
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 366-
2892, or fax (202) 366-7417.

    Dated: July 9, 2001.
Bernestine Allen,
Director, Office of International Transportation and Trade.
[FR Doc. 01-17571 Filed 7-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P