Nashville Standard

United States Senator Bill Hagerty, a Republican from Tennessee and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, addressed the Senate floor to express concerns over U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai's actions. He criticized her for allegedly weakening protections under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which he argues leaves American companies vulnerable to property seizures by Mexico.

Hagerty specifically mentioned the case of Vulcan Materials Company, whose deep-water port and assets in Mexico were reportedly seized. He highlighted the importance of these assets to U.S. infrastructure projects and their national security implications. In response, Hagerty urged Congress to pass his Defending American Property Abroad Act. This proposed legislation aims to impose retaliatory measures against any Western Hemisphere nation unlawfully seizing American assets.

Joining Hagerty in this discussion were Senators Tim Kaine from Virginia, Katie Britt from Alabama, and Tommy Tuberville also from Alabama.

“If Mexico is allowed to target, without repercussion, a company like Vulcan, one that employs thousands of Americans and has operated responsibly in Mexico for decades, that means no American business is safe in Mexico,” Hagerty stated. “This kind of lawlessness will shatter investor confidence in Mexico. Why would any U.S. company risk capital in a country where contracts are meaningless, regulations are weaponized, and property can be seized at the government’s whim? This erosion of trust threatens not only American jobs but also the economic integration of North America, which many think is vital to our national security and our global competitiveness.”