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Mexican trade compliance, explained by the people who handle it every day.

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Your first import

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How to import from China to Mexico: a step-by-step guideThe 8 stages of an import from China — supplier, Incoterm, freight, 2026 tariffs, clearance and delivery — with the real costs and timelines.
How much does it cost to import into Mexico? The real breakdownEvery line you pay when importing — freight, handling, duties, VAT, broker fees, trucking — with a complete worked example.
What does a Mexican customs broker do — and what do they charge?The liability your customs broker takes on, how their fees are structured, and which charges on your expense account are theirs — and which aren’t.
How long does an import take? Real timelines by stageTransit times by lane and mode, how long customs clearance takes, and what makes an operation run late.
What documents do I need to import into Mexico?The complete import file: what each document is, who issues it and what it’s for. The master list.
What is the pedimento and how do you read it?The most important document of your import: what it is, its entry codes (A1, IN, R1…) and the fields you should check.

Registrations & filings

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Mexico’s electronic value declaration (MVE) 2026: the plain-English guideWhat the MVE is, what changed, a checklist and the step-by-step to transmit it through Mexico’s trade single window (VUTCE) before the August 1, 2026 deadline.
How to file a broker authorization (encargo conferido) with the SATThe encargo conferido authorizes your customs broker to clear cargo on your behalf. Step-by-step filing on the tax authority’s portal.
How to enroll in Mexico’s importers registry (padrón)Requirements, step-by-step and timelines to enroll in the tax authority’s importers registry — free and fully online.
Mexico’s sector-specific importers registry: do I need it?Which sectors (chemicals, textiles, footwear, steel…) require a sector registry on top of the general one, and how to get enrolled.

Duties & taxes

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Mexico’s 2026 tariffs on China and non-FTA countries: what changed and who gets hitThe December 29, 2025 decree raised the import duty (IGI) on 1,463 tariff codes for goods with no trade agreement. Which sectors, which rates, and how to know if it applies to you.
USMCA certification of origin: how to pay 0% dutyWhat the USMCA certification of origin is, the 9 minimum data elements, who can issue it and the mistakes that kill the benefit.
How do I find my product’s Mexican tariff code?Three ways to find your tariff code (TIGIE + NICO) and why classifying it right determines your taxes.
How are Mexican import taxes calculated? (IGI, DTA and VAT)The full breakdown of the taxes on a Mexican import, with a complete worked example and a free calculator.

Permits & regulations

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Mexico’s labeling standards (NOMs): which one applies to your product?NOM-050, NOM-051 and the other standards customs checks at clearance: which products they cover, how you prove compliance, and where to do the labeling.
Prior permits and non-tariff regulations (RRNA)COFEPRIS, SEMARNAT, SEDENA, SADER, Economy: which agency regulates what, when you need a prior permit, and how it’s filed through Mexico’s trade single window.
The customs red/green light (semáforo): what happens if you pull redHow Mexico’s automated selection mechanism works, what gets checked in a customs examination, how long it takes, and how to lower your odds of a red.

Freight & shipping

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Bill of Lading (BL): what it is, the types, and telex releaseThe document that controls your cargo: what a BL is, original vs. express release, and how your freight actually gets released at destination.
FCL vs LCL: your own container or consolidated freight?When a full container pays off and when to share space: cost, transit time, risk, and the break-even point in cubic meters.
Demurrage, detention and storage: why you get billed and how to avoid itThe difference between demurrage, detention and storage charges, when each clock starts running, and the six ways to pay none of them.
Carta Porte: who needs it and what happens without itThe Carta Porte 3.1 supplement to the CFDI: who has to issue it, what data it requires, how it ties to your import customs entry, and the penalties.

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