Digital and Customs Trade: Technical obstacles
Mexico does not notify changes in its customs procedures. In some cases, the notice comes with less than two weeks of margin. Differences between customs persist, restrictions to import certain products at all entry points and logistic obstacles for small businesses.
In addition, the customs law limits the number of ports in which an customs agent can operate, which contradicts the T-MEC. Nor has a periodic payment system been established for express shipments.
A new requirement raised the requirement for simplified procedures in shipments less than $ 2,500. Now, companies must collect the recipient’s RFC, which, according to Washington, slows electronic commerce.
HEALTH: Unanswered lag
Delays in health records of medical devices and pharmaceutical products are among the main claims. Companies report waiting times of up to two years. The Cofepris, responsible for authorizations, does not have enough personnel or infrastructure to issue certifications within.
Larry Rubin, director of the Mexican Association of Pharmaceutical Research Industries (AMIIF), points out that Mexico faces regulatory barriers that prevent its leadership in innovation, largely due to Cofepris lag.
Agriculture and telecommunications
In agriculture, Mexico’s policy on glyphosate and other pesticides caused alarm. The government denied permits without scientific consultation or evidence. Although the herbicide remains authorized, quotas were imposed and its elimination was postponed. Companies face obstacles to register or renew products. Some have already lost import permits.
Fresh potato exports remain under review. For years, access was limited to a 26 -kilometer strip on the border. Although Mexico expanded coverage to cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in 2021, the United States insists that the implementation does not guarantee clear or scientific conditions.
In telecommunications, regulation requires local evidence with outdated standards and few laboratories. This slows the entry of new equipment. In digital services, Mexico limits the operation of electronic payments suppliers and hinders the use of cloud services with servers in the United States.
Intellectual Property and Insurance
Mexico appears on the Ustr surveillance list by physical and digital piracy. The existence of registered marks of bad faith and the slowness in judicial processes hinder the legal defense of patents and copyright.
In the insurance sector, the SAT modified its legal interpretation and demanded retroactive VAT payments in claims since 2015. This measure puts the financial viability of several insurers at risk.
Transgenic corn under surveillance
The genetically modified corn dispute climbed in 2023, when Mexico prohibited its mass and tortillas. He announced his gradual replacement in food and fodder. The United States activated the T-MEC controversy solution mechanism and won the case, but maintains the actions of the Mexican government under review. Modified cotton planting faces similar obstacles.
On paper, Mexico He offered to eliminate obstacles They have been disputed for years. In fact, he faces a puzzle without instructions. For Trump, the countdown not only measures time towards a new pact, but the real capacity of the country to fulfill what it promises.
