Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MEXICO2303
2009-08-04 21:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:
CANCELLATION OF TRUCKING PROGRAM HURTS U.S. EXPORTS TO MEXICO, ACCORDING TO NEW STUDY
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UNCLAS MEXICO 002303
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/BTA/GROUT
STATE FOR WHA/MEX/LEE
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR MELLE/SHIGETOMI
NSC FOR RESTREPO/O'REILLY
USDA FOR FFAS/MILLER, FAS FOR OA/MICHENER
TREASURY FOR OI/JARPE
COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/ONAFTA/WARD/OLSEN
STATE PASS TO DOT FOR TRAINI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGRE NAFTA MX
SUBJECT: CANCELLATION OF TRUCKING PROGRAM HURTS U.S. EXPORTS TO
MEXICO, ACCORDING TO NEW STUDY
UNCLAS MEXICO 002303
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/BTA/GROUT
STATE FOR WHA/MEX/LEE
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR MELLE/SHIGETOMI
NSC FOR RESTREPO/O'REILLY
USDA FOR FFAS/MILLER, FAS FOR OA/MICHENER
TREASURY FOR OI/JARPE
COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/ONAFTA/WARD/OLSEN
STATE PASS TO DOT FOR TRAINI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGRE NAFTA MX
SUBJECT: CANCELLATION OF TRUCKING PROGRAM HURTS U.S. EXPORTS TO
MEXICO, ACCORDING TO NEW STUDY
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. exports sharply dropped among several of the
89 U.S. products on which the GOM imposed retaliatory tariffs in
response to the cancellation of the U.S.-Mexico Cross Border
Trucking Demonstration Project. According to a respected local
trade consulting firm, exports to Mexico of these products fell 37
percent in April 2009 compared to exports of these products in April
2008. This is the first time advocates of a new, robust replacement
trucking program can quantify the negative impact effects on U.S.
producers of these agricultural and industrial products. The issue
is gaining traction, and we suspect that the GOM will take action
soon if no USG action on trucking is forthcoming. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On July 30, the Mexican financial daily "Economista" ran a
short article explaining the results of a study conducted by IQOM, a
reputable trade consulting firm run by former senior Secretariat of
Economy (Economia) officials. IQOM analyzed the recent trade
numbers and reported that U.S. exports of products affected by the
retaliatory tariffs dropped sharply from US$ 200 million in April
2008 to US$ 127 million in April 2009, a 37 percent fall. IQOM told
us that it based its findings on data publicly available on the U.S.
International Trade Commission website, as well as on information
proved by SE. When we raised this finding with his Economia
counterpart, the Mexican official said he had seen the article and
that Economia was doing whatever it could to help IQOM with its
research.
3. (SBU) Post intends to run its own numbers to emulate the IQOM
study, in order to track IQOM's results. One complication in
drawing conclusions from raw trade data, however, is the difficulty
of distinguishing between the influence of the global economic
downturn and the impact of the punitive tariffs. In fact, trade is
down in many product groups, including those enjoying zero tariffs.
Given anecdotal feedback from U.S. and Mexican traders, it is clear
that the punitive tariffs have had a significant impact on several
products, even if we cannot be certain of their exact impact.
Naturally, other factors besides the economic downturn may also
contribute to the decline in exports.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: This is the first quantitative assessment of the
impact of Mexico's punitive tariffs on targeted U.S. agricultural
and industrial products as a result of the U.S. Congress'
cancellation of the U.S.-Mexico Cross Border Trucking Demonstration
Project. Not surprisingly, this study will likely find broad
readership within the GOM. On several occasions in the last month,
the GOM has made clear its intention to revise the punitive tariff
list to include more sensitive U.S. exports should the current list
not encourage the USG to introduce a new and acceptable trucking
program. We believe this issue is gaining traction in GOM circles,
and we suspect the GOM will take action soon if no USG action on
trucking is forthcoming. END COMMENT.
FEELEY
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/BTA/GROUT
STATE FOR WHA/MEX/LEE
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR MELLE/SHIGETOMI
NSC FOR RESTREPO/O'REILLY
USDA FOR FFAS/MILLER, FAS FOR OA/MICHENER
TREASURY FOR OI/JARPE
COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/ONAFTA/WARD/OLSEN
STATE PASS TO DOT FOR TRAINI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAGRE NAFTA MX
SUBJECT: CANCELLATION OF TRUCKING PROGRAM HURTS U.S. EXPORTS TO
MEXICO, ACCORDING TO NEW STUDY
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. exports sharply dropped among several of the
89 U.S. products on which the GOM imposed retaliatory tariffs in
response to the cancellation of the U.S.-Mexico Cross Border
Trucking Demonstration Project. According to a respected local
trade consulting firm, exports to Mexico of these products fell 37
percent in April 2009 compared to exports of these products in April
2008. This is the first time advocates of a new, robust replacement
trucking program can quantify the negative impact effects on U.S.
producers of these agricultural and industrial products. The issue
is gaining traction, and we suspect that the GOM will take action
soon if no USG action on trucking is forthcoming. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On July 30, the Mexican financial daily "Economista" ran a
short article explaining the results of a study conducted by IQOM, a
reputable trade consulting firm run by former senior Secretariat of
Economy (Economia) officials. IQOM analyzed the recent trade
numbers and reported that U.S. exports of products affected by the
retaliatory tariffs dropped sharply from US$ 200 million in April
2008 to US$ 127 million in April 2009, a 37 percent fall. IQOM told
us that it based its findings on data publicly available on the U.S.
International Trade Commission website, as well as on information
proved by SE. When we raised this finding with his Economia
counterpart, the Mexican official said he had seen the article and
that Economia was doing whatever it could to help IQOM with its
research.
3. (SBU) Post intends to run its own numbers to emulate the IQOM
study, in order to track IQOM's results. One complication in
drawing conclusions from raw trade data, however, is the difficulty
of distinguishing between the influence of the global economic
downturn and the impact of the punitive tariffs. In fact, trade is
down in many product groups, including those enjoying zero tariffs.
Given anecdotal feedback from U.S. and Mexican traders, it is clear
that the punitive tariffs have had a significant impact on several
products, even if we cannot be certain of their exact impact.
Naturally, other factors besides the economic downturn may also
contribute to the decline in exports.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: This is the first quantitative assessment of the
impact of Mexico's punitive tariffs on targeted U.S. agricultural
and industrial products as a result of the U.S. Congress'
cancellation of the U.S.-Mexico Cross Border Trucking Demonstration
Project. Not surprisingly, this study will likely find broad
readership within the GOM. On several occasions in the last month,
the GOM has made clear its intention to revise the punitive tariff
list to include more sensitive U.S. exports should the current list
not encourage the USG to introduce a new and acceptable trucking
program. We believe this issue is gaining traction in GOM circles,
and we suspect the GOM will take action soon if no USG action on
trucking is forthcoming. END COMMENT.
FEELEY