The Associated General Contractors of America praised New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez, and cement supplier GCC of America for announcing increased supplies of cement to New Mexico. Chávez worked a deal with Chihuahua, Mexico-based GCC, which supplies half of the state's cement and recently announced to customers that it would be rationing powder by cutting supplies at least 20 percent. The deal with Chávez involves GCC imported Mexican cement and temporarily absorbing the hefty tariffs.

“The quick action by a governor, mayor, and cement producer will help New Mexico contractors stay in business,” said AGC CEO Stephen Sandherr. “In addition, I commend Governors Richardson, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Kenny Guinn of Nevada, and Jon Huntsman, Jr. or Utah for their joint letter to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, in which they ‘respectfully request that you take the appropriate steps to resolve U.S.-Mexico cement trade issues.’”

Sandherr added a message aimed at Southern Tier Cement Committee members: “It is high time for other cement producers to admit they are not being ‘injured’ by Mexican cement imports.”