After hundreds of millions of lost dollars, delays in shipments and trucks stuck in multi-mile backups, the situation in the Texas border is getting back to normal.
As economic fallout worsened Texas Gov. Greg Abbott moved incrementally to roll back new inspection rules for commercial trucks entering from Mexico, a decision that started as a protest against President Biden’s immigration policy.
Abbott finally signed individual agreements with Governors of Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Tamaulipas to increase safety inspection of trucks crossing the border, ending excessive controls at the border.
During the additional inspections what used to be a routine border crossing turned into a 30-hour wait for some trucks. Losses to fruit and vegetable producers are estimated to be more than $240 million, said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
In an open letter addressed to Gov. Abbot, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said the move was as “political theater”. The Trump-endorsed Republican lamented that an “economy killing action” was risking shortages on grocery store shelves.
Last week the White House criticized the enhanced inspections as unnecessary and said they had disrupted food and automobile supply chains.
In Mexico, President López Obrador also criticized Abbotts’ move. “Legally they can do it, but it’s a very despicable way to act,” he said during his regular news conference.
