WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the administration is "closer than soon" in tabling a plan to resolve the cross-border trucking dispute with Mexico.

At a Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, LaHood said "we are very near a proposal."

Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who urged LaHood back in March to expedite a plan to resume cross-border trucking with Mexico and address safety concerns, pressed a little harder on the timeline.

Murray interrupted LaHood with, "Sooner than soon?" The transport secretary responded saying, "It is closer than soon."

The Bush administration launched a cross-border pilot program in 2007 which gave select Mexican carriers access to the U.S. beyond the traditional 20-mile commercial restriction zone.

At the urging of the Teamsters and other special interests, Congress cancelled the program.

The Mexican government slapped $2.4 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, which led to many legislators calling for a revival of the program. President Obama promised a new plan about a year ago.

"President Obama’s administration’s intention is to restart this program," said LaHood. "It’s a part of NAFTA. It needs to be restarted. We believe if it is restarted, that these tariffs will be lifted, which we know have had a devastating effect, not only on the state of Washington, but on many other states across the country. We’re very close to briefing you and other Senators on the proposal." 

— via Truckinginfo.com