Mexico’s proposed higher mining royalties could block nearly $7bn in investments
The Mexican government proposed raising mining royalties under the argument that metal prices have risen in recent years.
First Majestic Silver (NYSE: AG) (TSX: FR) said on Friday it is getting ready to appeal a Mexican court decision this week that revoked a key agreement that determined how the silver producer was taxed in the country.
The federal court’s ruling, yet to be formally delivered to the Canadian miner’s subsidiary, Primero Empresa Minera, cancels an advanced pricing agreement governing the tax on silver sales between 2010-2014.
First Majestic said the “rushed” resolution did not follow regular procedures as the court did not provide the company with an opportunity to present evidence supporting its case.
Miner said the resolution is “inconsistent with previous legal precedents” and violates the Mexican Constitution
It also said the decision was “inconsistent with previous legal precedents” adding “it violates” the Mexican Constitution.
The Vancouver-based miner initiated in May an arbitration process against Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The move gave the López Obrador administration until August 11th to enter into “good faith and amicable negotiations” with the company, which disputes reassessments issued by Mexico’s tax authority, totaling $209.2 million.
The 90-day process deadline expired without any resolution of the tax dispute, First Majestic said on Friday.
The company, which has three producing mines and several projects in Mexico, said it continues to asses all its legal options, both domestic and international.
In June, the company announced it planned to sell its Jalisco Group of assets to Apollo Gold (TSX-V: APGO). The six properties, totaling 52.4 sq. km, (32 miles) include a total of 15 highly prospective claims. First Majestic has a 100% ownership in 13 of them, and hold a 45% stake in two of them.
López Obrador has made cracking down on tax breaks a priority. Several major companies, including the local unit of US retailer Walmart and Mexican conglomerate Femsa, have recently agreed to make tax payments.
First Majestic has proposed three settlement offers since 2018 before launching the trade challenge in May. Each of them have been rebuffed.
Mexico is the world’s top silver producer.
