[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 46 (Friday, March 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10792-10793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5625]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Office of the Secretary; North American Free Trade Agreement 
Conference

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice (1) announces a DOT-sponsored North American Free 
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) information conference, to be held at the 
Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, May 29-31, 2002, (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 
their agency requirements affecting the operations of commercial truck 
and bus companies engaged in cross-border operations. This conference 
was originally scheduled to take place in October 2001, but was 
postponed following the terrorist attacks on the United States on 
September 11, 2001.

Background

    Since 1982, the operation of most Mexican motor carriers in the 
United States has been limited by a statutory moratorium on DOT's 
granting of authority to those carriers to operate outside the 
commercial zones along the U.S.--Mexico border. The North American Free 
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created a timetable for the gradual lifting of 
that moratorium 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. Liberalized 
access was to have begun in 1995, but the United States postponed 
implementation due to safety concerns. A NAFTA dispute resolution panel 
subsequently ruled that the U.S. blanket prohibition on processing 
Mexican motor carrier applications for authority to operate throughout 
the United States 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. In addition, as part of DOT's FY-2002 appropriations act, 
the Congress specified a number of actions that the Department must 
take prior to processing Mexican motor carrier applications for 
authority to operate throughout the United States. In anticipation of a 
Presidential order lifting the moratorium, the Department is currently 
taking steps to comply with the provisions of the appropriations act 
and expects to be ready to process Mexican motor carrier applications 
for authority to operate throughout the United States by June 30, 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 the 
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, Mexican motor carriers 
will be operating in the United States for the first time once the 
NAFTA's access provisions are implemented. 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 the NAFTA's 
transportation provisions. For this reason, the Department of 
Transportation, in cooperation with Canada, Mexico, and other federal 
agencies will host a NAFTA information

[[Page 10793]]

conference in San Antonio, Texas, May 29-31, 2002 to promote an 
understanding of the requirements for legal cross-border motor carrier 
operations among the three NAFTA countries. The Department will be 
assisted in preparing for the conference by the Free Trade Alliance San 
Antonio.

Who Should Attend

    This conference will be beneficial for government lawyers, 
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. 
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 either in English or 
Spanish with simultaneous translation. To the extent possible, agency 
representatives who address specific questions from attendees outside 
the formal panel sessions will be bilingual.

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 Web site for prospective 
attendees and other interested parties. The DOT Web site will contain 
an updated schedule of events, guest speakers, and agendas for the 
panel sessions as they are developed. The Web site can be accessed by 
going to the DOT homepage at www.dot.gov/NAFTA.
    The DOT Web site also has a link to the Free Trade Alliance San 
Antonio's Web site, where a registration form for the conference can be 
accessed and completed online. Registration forms can also be 
downloaded from the Web site and completed manually. Forms completed 
manually 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.
    All participants are requested to fill out a conference 
registration form. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Westin 
Riverwalk Hotel, 420 West Market Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205. 
Interested parties can contact the hotel by telephone at 210-224-6500 
or by fax at 210-444-6000. Further information about accommodations can 
be found on the Free Trade Alliance Web site 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: February 28, 2002.
Bernestine Allen,
Director, Office of International Transportation and Trade.
[FR Doc. 02-5625 Filed 3-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P