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Foreign trade, explained.
Practical guides on forwarding, customs clearance, incentive programs and logistics operations — written by the team that runs them every day.
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Programs June 15, 2026
AEO in Mexico: what the Authorized Economic Operator is and when it pays off
Mexico's OEA (AEO) certification cuts physical inspections, grants express lanes and international recognition (C-TPAT, EU AEO). What it is, the SAT's requirements, the real benefits, and when it's worth it for an importing SME.
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Compliance June 15, 2026
Sector-specific importer registry: why your general registry isn't enough
Being on Mexico's Importer Registry isn't enough if your goods are in Annex 10: steel, textiles, footwear and chemicals require a separate sector registry. What it is, which sectors it covers, and why a suspension freezes your container.
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Operations June 15, 2026
VUCEM: the single window and why your operation is already 100% digital
Mexico's VUCEM single window centralizes permits, certificates and invoices (COVE) on one platform linked to your customs entry. What it is, how the e-document and e-signature work, and why a badly digitized document stops your clearance.
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Category
Programs
06 articles
Programs June 15, 2026
AEO in Mexico: what the Authorized Economic Operator is and when it pays off
Mexico's OEA (AEO) certification cuts physical inspections, grants express lanes and international recognition (C-TPAT, EU AEO). What it is, the SAT's requirements, the real benefits, and when it's worth it for an importing SME.
Read →
Programs June 8, 2026
Rule Eight (Regla Octava): how to import inputs at 0% to manufacture in Mexico
Rule Eight is a prior import permit from Mexico's Ministry of Economy that lets you import inputs, parts and machinery under heading 98.02 at a preferential rate. What it is, who can use it, requirements, and why it matters more than ever now.
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Programs June 5, 2026
USMCA certificate of origin: how to pay 0% duty (and the mistakes that void it)
The certificate of origin is what lets you import under USMCA (T-MEC) preferential tariff treatment. What it is, how certification works, what rules of origin are, and why a 'Made in USA' product isn't enough to qualify.
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Programs May 25, 2026
Bonded warehouse, fiscal deposit and Strategic Bonded Facility: which one fits and why
The three regimes that let you defer duties and VAT while your goods wait. Real differences, when to use each, and what it does for your cash flow.
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Programs April 29, 2026
What is IMMEX and when does it make sense for your company?
The IMMEX program lets you import inputs without paying VAT as long as you re-export within a deadline. Who qualifies, how much it saves, and what implementation looks like.
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Programs April 26, 2026
PROSEC: how to know if your industry qualifies
PROSEC lets you import inputs from specific sectors at reduced or zero tariff, with no requirement to export. Who qualifies and what the process looks like.
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Category
Compliance
07 articles
Compliance June 15, 2026
Sector-specific importer registry: why your general registry isn't enough
Being on Mexico's Importer Registry isn't enough if your goods are in Annex 10: steel, textiles, footwear and chemicals require a separate sector registry. What it is, which sectors it covers, and why a suspension freezes your container.
Read →
Compliance June 8, 2026
Tariffs on China and non-FTA countries: what changed in 2026 and how it hits you
Since January 1, 2026 Mexico applies tariffs of up to 50% on 1,463 tariff lines of goods from countries without a free trade agreement. What changed, which sectors it hits, and how origin and USMCA can shield your cost.
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Compliance June 5, 2026
Countervailing and antidumping duties: the hidden cost that can double your import (especially from China)
A countervailing duty is an extra charge against unfair trade practices that can multiply the cost of importing. What they are, how to know if your tariff code has one in force, why they hit China sourcing so hard, and how they affect cost.
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Compliance June 5, 2026
Undervaluation: why declaring a low customs value backfires badly (and how the SAT catches it)
Declaring a lower customs value than the real one is one of the SAT's priority enforcement targets. How it's detected, what precautionary seizure and PAMA are, what estimated prices mean, and how to make your declared value hold up.
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Compliance May 26, 2026
The tariff code: the number that sets how much you pay, what permits you need, and whether you get in
How goods are classified under Mexico's TIGIE, what the tariff line and NICO define, and why a wrong classification is the #1 cause of fines and held cargo.
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Compliance May 19, 2026
Mexican labeling NOMs for importers: 051, 003, 004 and the ones people forget
Mexico's Official Standards (NOMs) for labeling are the #1 cause of goods getting held at customs. Here's which NOM applies to your product, how customs verifies compliance, and what happens if you arrive mislabeled.
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Compliance April 30, 2026
Importing into Mexico without an importer registry: how an importer-of-record works
If your company wants to import but is not registered in Mexico's importer registry, an importer-of-record (IOR) solves the problem. Here's how it works and when it makes sense.
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Category
Operations
06 articles
Operations June 15, 2026
VUCEM: the single window and why your operation is already 100% digital
Mexico's VUCEM single window centralizes permits, certificates and invoices (COVE) on one platform linked to your customs entry. What it is, how the e-document and e-signature work, and why a badly digitized document stops your clearance.
Read →
Operations June 8, 2026
Carta Porte 3.1: what it is, who issues it, and the penalties for getting it wrong
Mexico's Carta Porte 3.1 complement is the only valid version and mandatory since July 2024. What it covers, who must issue it, how it cross-checks against your import entry, and the SAT penalties for errors.
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Operations May 27, 2026
Demurrage, detention and storage: the hidden costs that eat your import margin
What each charge is, when the clock starts, how many free days you get, and the five real reasons a container racks up thousands of dollars in extra charges.
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Operations May 18, 2026
Mexican customs clearance step by step: from Bill of Lading to released entry
Exactly what happens between your goods arriving at port and leaving customs. Documents, typical timelines, the random selection mechanism, and where operations actually get stuck.
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Operations May 1, 2026
Incoterms 2020 explained without jargon: who pays, who's accountable
DDP, FOB, EXW, CIF — the 11 Incoterms 2020 translated to plain English. Who carries the cost, who takes the risk, and where each party's responsibility ends.
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Operations April 28, 2026
FCL vs LCL ocean freight: when to use each
FCL means full container, LCL means consolidated cargo. Here's how each is priced, the typical breakeven points, and when LCL ends up costing more.
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Category
Routes
02 articles
Routes May 17, 2026
Importing from the US by land: Laredo, Nogales or Tijuana — which crossing fits
Three border crossings handle 80% of US–Mexico land freight. We compare transit times, costs, congestion, and inland routes to decide where your goods should cross.
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Routes April 27, 2026
Asia–Mexico transit times 2026: ocean and air routes
How long a shipment takes today from China, Korea or Japan to the main Mexican ports. Tables by mode, recommendations and factors that change the timeline.
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