Greater coordination is needed between the Tax Administration Service (SAT) and the customs sector to improve the efficiency of processes and avoid delays and other incidents at customs, with a view to Mexico strengthening its trade policy, specialists agreed at the analysis table IMECE’s Positioning on Trade Policy 2024-2030.
Within the framework of the XIX Annual Convention of the Mexican Institute of Foreign Trade Executives (IMECE) , Nashielly Escobedo, general director of the Latin American Confederation of Customs Agents (CLAA) , anticipated that the nuances of the new federal government, headed by Claudia Sheinbaum, must be seen, which must promote an attractive investment environment for which strong institutions are required.
In his participation, he indicated that for better operation, it is necessary for the customs sector to have autonomy. He also pointed out that there is a lack of resources to have adequate personnel, which can be seen in the delays in resolving some customs procedures, however, he said that progress is being made, although at a slow pace.
Escobedo pointed out that there must be joint work between the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) and the SAT, to be more punctual and avoid fraud and smuggling.
He also applauded the installation of the National Facilitation Committee by the Secretary of Economy , Marcelo Ebrard, and indicated that its members have to work hand in hand.
Sergio Barajas, a partner in Foreign Trade and Customs at Basham, Ringe and Correa , said that there must be legal certainty in the customs sector to attract investments.
The specialist expressed concern that a soldier does not have the customs knowledge to make the best decisions, so he indicated that it is not feasible to improvise and specified that the participation of specialists in the matter is necessary.
Sergio Barajas recalled that when the customs sector made the proposal to the SAT to make the processes more efficient, the objective was to have specialization.
He also said that one of the problems facing the sector is not understanding the concept of facilitation, which has generated negative consequences, and gave the example of the delay in registering a customs agent.
In turn, Carlos Pérez, general director of Standardization and Certification of NYCE , pointed out that the transition to customs autonomy has to do with having specialized personnel, as well as the implementation of technology.
He recalled that the failures in customs systems that occurred a few days ago generated costs and delays. As a result, delays are sometimes up to 13 days, which affects all those who operate in foreign trade, so he considered that there is a need to “evolve” in this regard.
Luis Carlos Moreno, former general administrator of customs and partner of the González Luna, Moreno y Armida law firm , agreed that more cooperation is needed between the SAT and ANAM, and considered it inconsistent to limit some tasks in the sense that ANAM cannot collect some taxes.
Regarding the procedures, he said that it is necessary to define which ones are truly important, in order to facilitate customs processes.
Manuel Díaz, CEO of Supply Chain de México , expressed his concern about whether the new federal administration will propose new policies on the matter, and indicated that there is still much to be done in the customs sector.
In this context, he said that there is a problem of a lack of vision on the part of the Mexican government, which, he considered, must be changed since otherwise Mexico would be facing a setback in what it has achieved in this area.
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