Citing PCA’s November 2004 report finding cement shortages or tight supply in parts of 35 states, Associated General Contractors of America CEO Steve Sandherr urged recently sworn-in Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez to pursue discussion with government and industry officials leading to the lifting of antidumping duties on cement imported from Mexico. In a February 11 letter, Sandherr noted, “With domestic production increasing slowly at best, [PCA’s forecasted 3% increase] in demand will worsen a bad situation, unless additional supply can be brought into the U.S. This duty, which has been in place since 1990,” he continued, “keeps out the nearest foreign source of cement. With cement prices rising and domestic suppliers telling customers they must wait weeks for deliveries, it makes no sense to keep readily available cement away from Florida and other parts of the country easily reached by Mexico.”

The letter follows a June 2004 call to then-Secretary Donald Evans to temporarily lift tariffs imposed on Mexican powder.