A group representing independent truck drivers accused Mexico of “economic bullying” while arguing against allowing Mexican truckers to operate in the U.S.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association asked the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to challenge the legality of $2.4 billion in tariffs Mexico placed on U.S. goods last year after Congress and the White House killed a cross-border trucking program.

In a meeting with Mexico’s secretary of the economy earlier this month, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the White House would consult with members of Congress opposed to reinstating a cross-border trucking program for Mexican carriers.

The Obama administration faces rising pressure from agricultural exporters and manufacturers whose business has been hurt by the Mexican tariffs. Mexico’s economy minister, Gerardo Ruiz Mateos, said 9 he expects the dispute will be resolved by the end of the year.

Cross-border trucking between the U.S. and Mexico was part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, but it has never been put in place, except for a limited test by the Bush administration.

Any potential cross-border trucking program with Mexico faces significant roadblocks, including congressional opposition, the Teamsters union and the 156,000 independent truckers represented by OOIDA. In a statement released today, the trucking group said Kirk showed “a willingness to give in” to Mexico’s “bullying,” and pursuing “yet another cross-border trucking program.”

“Instead of caving into blackmail from Mexico, the safety of our nation’s highways should be the top priority of U.S. officials,” said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer. He said Mexico has not addressed numerous issues relating to homeland security, criminal activity by drug cartels and its trucking industry that should be a prerequisite to any discussion of cross-border trucking.

Mexico and the U.S. do not have comparable drug and alcohol testing, commercial drivers licensing and tracking and hours of service requirements, Spencer said.

“This is what officials from Mexico should be focused on, and our U.S. trade rep should not be bashful about telling it exactly that way.”