[FFW News] U.S.-Mexico border crisis update

Author

Boxy
February 15, 2024

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Logistics News for February 15, 2024

🧭Crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border continues to complicate commerce

The political crisis over the U.S.southern border is impacting cross-border trade. Consider the following:

  • The GOP-controlled House has voted to impeach U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on a second vote

  • Senate Republicans killed a border security deal they lobbied for

  • Texas and Republican-controlled state governments continue to defy federal court orders on border enforcement policies

  • Former Mexican rail workers are blocking rail routes into the United States in protest of local policies and shortcomings.

  • Texas roads dominate the 2024 top truck bottleneck list.

  • The week of Feb 9 saw a 48 hour disruption in all US-to-Mexico freight border crossings, reportedly due to a computer systems error.

U.S. lawmakers want to keep cargo ports of entry open. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., introduced the Keeping International Land Ports of Entry Open Act in a bid to prohibit President Joe Biden’s administration from diverting Customs and Border Protection personnel to the surge of migrants across the southern border.

Cruz, a critic of Sec. Mayorkas and Biden said the president “is [now] harming American farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, truckers and consumers by prioritizing welcoming illegal aliens over facilitating lawful commerce.”

Mayorkas was impeached on what observers call a difference in policy and implementation of that policy. There are no crimes alleged in the impeachment.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has promised to kill the impeachment articles upon arrival in the Senate, held by the Democrats.

Bottom Line: The border standoff is beginning to hit trade flows. The longer the political saga continues, the worse the effects will get.

Read more:

🤭 Houthi militants strike vessel headed for Iran: The Houthi militants of Yemen reportedly attacked a cargo vessel headed for Iran, reports Reuters. The Yemeni-based militants fired two missiles at the ship, in the Red Sea, causing minor damage but no injuries. There is no news of a response from Iran.

😶Is rail under-regulated?: Topher Sanders, a reporter for the investigative newsroom Pro Publica, told NPR that rail freight industries in the United States are underregulated. NPR interviewed Sanders, who led fellow reporters to dive into concerns over safety regulations after the derailment of the Norfolk Southern line in East Palestine, Ohio. Listen here…

🆙U.S. West Coast port volumes climb: Volumes through ports and cargo terminals on the Pacific coast have climbed. The Port of Oakland saw a strong year-end volume of container traffic. Port of Long Beach reported a cargo volume increase in January. Consider the evidence in these stories: 1 and 2…

🇨🇴Colombian bell peppers on their way to the United States: Growers in Colombia report that bell peppers are set to begin exporting to the United States. Fresh Plaza reports.

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