North America - KCS and KCSM said that the Mexican Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) has agreed to amend KCSM's Concession Title effective 14 Jul 2022, extending exclusivity rights by 10 years, the infrastructure investment is not to exceed $4 billion pesos.
 
"We are pleased to announce an agreement with the SICT to make critical rail infrastructure investments in the Celaya Bypass and other infrastructure, and extend KCSM's exclusivity rights under the Concession Title by 10 years," said Oscar Augusto Del Cueto Cuevas, President, General Manager and Executive Representative of KCSM, which serves northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lazaro Cardenas, Tampico, and Veracruz.
 
"This agreement and amendment reinforce our strong partnership with the Mexican government, and our long-standing commitment to support Mexico's railway network, which plays an essential role in promoting the country's economic growth."
 
Canadian Pacific, whose application to merge with KCS and create North American's first transnational freight railroad is now under Surface Transportation Board (STB) review, released a statement on 20 Jul 2022 saying it "applauded the announcement".
 
In related developments, the government of Mexico, through the Ministries of Energy, Finance, and the Tax Administration Service (SAT), in June made public a list of active and suspended taxpayers on its Importers' Registry, indicating that the suspensions were made due to several taxpayers apparently not being in full compliance with requirements under its Foreign Trade Rules.
 
Among them were KCSM and Grupo Mexico's Ferrosur rail freight subsidiary.
 
Author unknown.