2026 is seen in an environment of tension due to, among other issues, the revision of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) and the scrutiny of global supply chains, which is why Claudia Ávila , general director of Customs Services and International Affairs of the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) , stressed that the relationship with its northern neighbor must be viewed from a logic of interdependence and not confrontation.
“It’s an asymmetrical relationship, but one of interdependence. The United States knows it needs us, and we welcome our counterpart, CBP ( Customs and Border Protection), into working groups with cordiality and collaboration,” he stated during his participation with the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) .
According to Ávila, Washington’s main concern is not Mexico, but China’s growing influence in value chains , using the country as a platform to reach U.S. markets.
However, he clarified that the investigations show no evidence that Chinese products are imported “as is” and re-exported without processing.
“More than 50% of what Mexico imports from China is not intermediate goods, which reflects the ongoing process of productive transformation,” he stated.
In this context, he recalled that Plan Mexico seeks to replace Asian inputs with domestic production, strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with financing, certifications, and quality improvements.
“As long as the United States doesn’t feel threatened by China’s presence in these chains, the likelihood of them imposing new tariffs will decrease,” he said.
Customs challenges and latent risks
On the other hand, Ávila acknowledged that ANAM faces significant operational challenges, such as the growing volume of abandoned merchandise, ranging from e-commerce packages to medical equipment containing radioactive material.
“It’s not just about physically removing the merchandise; each product has a legal status and, in many cases, poses health risks. That’s why we’re working with the United States on detection and mitigation programs, including sweeps to prevent irradiation in facilities,” he explained.
The spokesperson warned that some strategic bonded facilities (RFE) have been used as warehouses for smuggling or tax evasion, which undermines their original purpose.
“These facilities were created to attract investment and foster productive transformation, but they have sometimes been misused. The new customs law seeks to strengthen controls with electronic inventories and digital locks to ensure they meet their objective of making the country competitive,” he noted.
Ávila emphasized that customs modernization involves digitizing processes and reducing human intervention, which involves standardizing criteria, training personnel, and updating equipment.
Regarding the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) , he asserted that today it is no longer a complement, but an essential differentiator, not only for streamlining operations but also for prestige in the market.
For Ávila, the great challenge lies in finding a balance between risk control and business competitiveness.
“The spirit of certification and security programs is to mitigate risks, but there must be a balance: more benefits for compliant companies, less unnecessary paperwork and reviews, and at the same time greater certainty for authorities,” he said.
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