Cemex thinks US cement tariff will go

Mexican cement producer Cemex is confident that the US government will eliminate anti-dumping duties against Mexican cement imports in September, El Norte reported. Cemex is confident the US department of commerce will eliminate the tariff, which has been in effect for more than 10 years. The Mexican government has already appealed against the tariff to the World Trade Organization and is waiting for the US to respond. "[Cement from] Mexico could make up the increase in demand in the US," the paper quoted John Bloom, chief economist at Cemex's US headquarters in Houston, Texas, as saying. A proposal to remove the tariff was presented to the department of commerce last year. Another factor which could work in favor of Mexico is that 70% of the US cement industry is already owned by foreign firms, notably Holcim of Switzerland and Lafarge of France. Mexican cement producers pay a tariff of US$52/t for cement exported to the US. Exports to the US are currently 900,000t/y, carrying US$46.8mn in anti-dumping duties.