WASHINGTON — At least one U.S. politician is siding with Ontario truckers and advocating that a controversial new inspection fee for cross-border truckers be cancelled.

Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, applauded the recent announcement that the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was delaying implementation of the new fees from March 1, 2007 until at least June 1, 2007.

“I’m glad that the (USDA) is starting to see the need to rethink this initiative,” Rep. Slaughter said. “It is a heavy-handed response to a narrow problem, and would increase congestion at the Peace Bridge and Lewiston Bridge. I encourage the Department of Agriculture to allow a joint US-Canada working group to develop workable solutions rather than moving forward with this flawed idea.”

Earlier this week, the Ontario Trucking Association, which strongly opposes the fees also called for such a working group. While it welcomed the news that the fee would be postponed, OTA says it is encouraging the U.S. “to come up with a solution that does not result in a doubling of the annual charge to send a truck into the United States.”

If and when the rule takes effect, truckers will have to fork over $5.25 US per crossing, or another $105 for an annual decal — on top of the current border crossing fee charge — whether the truck is carrying agricultural products or not.

Rep. Slaughter has been an outspoken critic of the proposed border rule. On September 26th, 2006, she sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns expressing concern with the interim rule.

“We must take targeted steps to protect US agriculture from pests and disease,” she said at the time. “However, a broad user fee will not only fail to protect U.S. crops, it will also severely hinder international commerce.”

A 2005 report by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce revealed that the U.S. loses $4.13 billion a year to border congestion. Such delays are likely to be increased by the requirements of the new USDA rule, says Slaughter.