U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) is calling on the Biden administration to intervene in the growing drama surrounding the Mexican government's seizure of a port owned by Birmingham-based construction firm Vulcan Materials.
According to Vulcan CEO J. Thomas Hill, Mexican authorities seized control of a Vulcan terminal on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico on March 14.
Hill claims several "heavily armed" Mexican military, police and state officials, accompanied by personnel of a Mexico-based building materials company CEMEX, informed Vulcan staff they had the order to bring a CEMEX ship to port and to unload cement.
As of Monday, the terminal was still under the control of Mexican authorities.
"This armed takeover of Vulcan's property shows just how corrupt the Mexican government has become," Palmer said.
"This is a gross abuse by the Mexican government to which President Biden must immediately respond in the strongest possible terms. The unjust takeover of a private American enterprise should cause every American company to reconsider locating in Mexico. If the Mexican government can do this to one company, they can do it to all. The Biden Administration should immediately respond to this assault against an American company and demand the Mexican government withdraw from the Vulcan Materials facility. It is essential the Biden Administration acts to protect America's interests, or it will risk other actions against American companies."
Earlier, U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), and State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger's Island), who chairs the Alabama House Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit Committee, have all expressed equal displeasure in the actions taken by the Mexican government.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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