For the 11th consecutive year, the U.S. Commerce Department determined a considerable dumping margin — 73.74% — on cement imports from Mexico from August 2000 to July 2001. If the margin is upheld on appeal, Mexico's Cemex will be required to pay an estimated $29.5 million in antidumping duties for the review.

Cemex's average dumping margin of 62% over the 11 administrative reviews is believed to be the highest margin every determined over such a long period of time for any one foreign exporter, according to Joe Dorn, counsel for the Southern Tier Cement Committee, an ad hoc coalition of 27 cement companies that operate 67 plants in 28 states.

The department originally issued the antidumping order on gray portland cement and clinker from Mexico in 1990. The final results may be appealed to the U.S. Court of International Trade or to a binational panel under dispute resolution procedures established by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).