Por: Meridecom | Nov 25, 2025 | Economy
Mexico’s customs shake-up: stricter enforcement in 2026 and MFN tariff hikes on the table
Mexico approved a comprehensive Customs Law reform—effective January 1, 2026—and is advancing LIGIE changes to raise MFN tariffs for goods from non-FTA countries. Together, these measures aim to digitize enforcement, strengthen accountability across customs actors, and realign tariff incentives.
What’s in the Customs Law reform?
- Effective date: lawmakers postponed general applicability to Jan 1, 2026, with staggered timelines for certain articles.
- Digital control: mandatory CCTV, electronic inventory, and real-time tracking across facilities, plus broader inspection powers to deter smuggling/tax evasion.
- Customs brokers/agencies: tougher sanctions and removal of “exempting causes of liability”; a Customs Council gains authority over licensing/discipline.
- Couriers & regimes: simplified courier/parcel clearance and updates to fiscal warehouse rules; ANAM/SAT strengthened as authorities.
LIGIE: what’s being proposed?
- Higher MFN tariffs: the bill would raise duties in ~1,371 tariff lines (non-FTA), with 10%–35%–50% bands across sensitive sectors (steel, textiles, footwear, furniture, toys, appliances, autos, etc.). FTA preferences remain if rules of origin are met.
- Policy context: part of the 2026 fiscal package—framed as industrial policy and trade rebalancing.
Business impact
- Landed costs: MFN imports from Asia/others face higher duties; model price sensitivity and margins. Consider origin shift to FTA supply chains when rules of origin allow.
- Compliance workload: prepare electronic inventory, tighter KYC/vendor files, and traceability for more frequent audits.
- Sourcing strategy: evaluate nearshoring/diversification to reduce MFN exposure.
- Contracts & risk: update broker and warehouse contracts for expanded liability and stricter sanctions.
Need a clear, actionable plan?
Meridecom helps you diagnose your tariff lines, optimize origin/duty, and bullet-proof processes under the new Customs Law. Book a tailored advisory to import/export with lower risk and better total landed cost.
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