Fernando Ramos Casas , founding partner of the Latin American Confederation of Customs Agents (CLAA) , will assume the presidency of this organization starting in January for the period 2026-2028 , in a context marked by the reform of the Customs Law, technological challenges and the strategic role of the customs agent in Mexican foreign trade.
During the celebration of CLAA’s 20th anniversary , Ramos, who had already presided over the organization in its founding stage, expressed the deep personal and professional bond that unites him with the Confederation.
“For me, it’s a very deep feeling, because this Confederation is like my third child. I have a daughter, Fernanda, 30; Sebastián, 27; and CLAA, 20. I’m returning at a super complicated time in the life of the country, with a customs reform that is testing us, and with the tsunami of artificial intelligence and all the technological changes that we have to face at the same time,” he emphasized.
The incoming president indicated that one of the pillars that gave rise to CLAA was the commitment to ethics , professionalization and integrity , values that will continue to be the compass of his administration.
“I invite all customs brokers to join CLAA—the good ones, the professionals, not those who rent licenses or engage in unfair competition. We take ethics and professionalism very seriously; that is why today we are a benchmark in foreign trade, with moral and technical authority built over two decades,” he emphasized.
Ramos also emphasized that, despite the increasing digitalization of the sector, “people remain at the heart of customs operations . “
For his part, John Willy Kolter , current president of the CLAA, warned that the recent reform to the Customs Law represents a risk to the role of the customs agent.
“This reform translates into ‘cannon fodder.’ Watch out, patent holders, because I’m coming to annihilate you. It seems this government intends to eliminate the role of the customs agent, but we cannot allow it. We will continue to defend our position,” he asserted.
Willy called for unity within the profession around legality and transparency, values that, he affirmed, should guide any collective effort. “Only in this way can we change the mistaken image that many have of customs agents ,” he stressed.
He also thanked the union, his family, and CLAA for their support during his term, which is about to end.
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