US House Slams Mexico’s Takeover of Vulcan Quarry

The United States House of Representatives has criticized the planned "forced occupation" of American company Vulcan Materials' quarry in Quintana Roo, Mexico, in 2023. They labelled the action as a direct affront to the US-Mexico bilateral relationship. The House expressed concerns that this move sends a message that private property and investments in Mexico are not secure from expropriation.

The fiscal year 2025 bill, which is yet to be reviewed and approved by the Senate, includes a report from the Appropriations Committee. The report criticizes President López Obrador's takeover of Vulcan's operations in Quintana Roo. The quarry is a strategic and significant point for the US economy and infrastructure. The report states that the takeover disregards the rule of law and jeopardizes the security and livelihoods of the company's employees.

The ongoing conflict with Vulcan Materials, which holds a concession until 2037, is causing trade friction with the United States. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly expressed the White House's concerns about the situation.

Since 2022, President López Obrador has hinted at his intention to expropriate these lands. In November 2023, Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) announced that the 2,400 hectares owned by Vulcan Materials are in the process of being declared a Protected Natural Area.