86% say their companies already incorporate predictive analytics to select suppliers, customers and business partners. Additionally, 68% use these tools to identify opportunities to qualify goods under different treaties.
However, only 28% automate the tariff classification flow, the phase that determines risks, times and compliance. That gap between vision and execution defines the greatest challenge of the moment.
“This disparity generates vulnerabilities in costs, times and risks of non-compliance that, in a context of high commercial volatility, can compromise competitiveness,” says Luciano Idésio, Vice President of Corporates Latam of Thomson Reuters in interview with Expansion.
The lack of digitalization exposes companies to classification errors, fines, delays and cost overruns that escalate quickly. “The low adoption of automation exposes companies to classification errors, fines, customs delays and logistical cost overruns,” warns Idésio.
It also complicates traceability before tax and customs authorities, a requirement that today defines eligibility for the T-MEC and access to tariff preferences.
The impact is not only operational. Idésio highlights the strategic risk: without automation, companies are trapped in a reactive mode, unable to anticipate changes in rules of origin, tariff adjustments or new documentary requirements. “Those who invest in technology can anticipate tariff scenarios, optimize routes and suppliers and strengthen their position in global supply chains,” he says.
Success stories are beginning to multiply, especially in sectors that depend on strict rules of origin, such as automotive and auto parts. According to Idésio, advanced solutions make it possible to replace manual processes and automatically orchestrate requests to suppliers, the issuance of certificates and the simultaneous validation of multiple commercial agreements.
The report also reveals how companies react to volatility. Two-thirds of respondents see trade routes as a space to optimize costs through technological or operational adjustments. In addition, 68% already implement production protocols to adapt to changes with the United States, 58% have risk management protocols and 44% have financial mechanisms to absorb impacts.
Mexico against the T-MEC, nearshoring and Plan México
The expectation towards 2026 reflects conditioned optimism. 72% of professionals believe that the renegotiation of the T-MEC will open new opportunities for Mexican companies that export to the United States and Canada.
Idésio highlights that it is foreseeable that rules of origin and preferences will be adjusted. Therefore, “anticipating and automating T-MEC eligibility allows us to reduce surcharges, delays and reprocessing at customs.”
Nearshoring also maintains momentum. 74% consider that it will continue to strengthen despite regional fluctuations. And Plan México, the government’s industrial commitment, receives broad support: more than four out of five respondents believe that it will encourage the expansion of foreign investment in the country.
To capitalize on these opportunities, he points out that Mexico must differentiate itself with solid digital standards in customs, documentary interoperability and regulatory clarity. In his words, the country has the possibility of positioning itself as a regional hub if it consolidates integrated compliance and advanced analytics platforms.
Talent is another critical point. Three-quarters of respondents consider the availability of qualified personnel to be the most important factor in sustaining growth.
The key is continuous training: without structured training in tariff classification, rules of origin, analytics and document management, technological investments do not translate into real advantages. “Without structured training programs, technological investments remain in pilot tests.”
His message to CEOs is direct: “Digitalization is no longer optional.” In an environment where rules change frequently, postponing investments means losing competitiveness compared to companies that already adopt specialized platforms and advanced data governance.
Going forward, Idésio sees a future “open to innovation,” where the right combination of technology, talent and reliable regulatory content defines Mexico’s ability to not only confront tariff volatility, but turn it into a leadership opportunity in global trade.
