LEÓN, GTO.- New foreign trade rules are changing the way the automotive industry operates in Mexico, marked by a more demanding customs environment where compliance, traceability and auditing have become central elements for the competitiveness of this sector, one of the most important in the country.

During the panel “Playing under new rules: customs reform and logistics competitiveness”, held at the second edition of the Road 2 Logistics Automotive 2026 of the Industrial Cluster , Gimena León, Industrial Services Procurement Coordinator of Pirelli Mexico, warned that it is no longer enough to know the regulatory changes, but that organizations must translate them into procedures, responsibilities and control systems that allow them to maintain operational continuity in the face of stricter oversight.

“The challenge is to translate that change into processes, times, movements and the definition of responsibilities within the organization,” León emphasized.

In her remarks, she explained that the reform to the Customs Law, which came into effect in 2026, is driving the digitization of processes and greater integration between corporate systems and government platforms . She also highlighted that authorities are using data analytics tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen audits and detect inconsistencies in foreign trade operations.

One of the panel’s main messages was that any non-compliance can become a logistical problem . An additional review, an incorrect tariff classification, or a documentation error could lead to delays, storage costs, and even halt the flow of materials to the production lines.

This issue becomes even more relevant in an industry that relies on highly integrated supply chains. Mexico maintains a strategic position within the North American automotive sector. In 2025 alone, 3,953,494 vehicles were produced and 3,385,785 units were exported, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .

During the panel, it was highlighted that regulatory pressure is also forcing companies to review the regional content of their products and their certificates of origin. Traceability has ceased to be a competitive advantage and has become an essential requirement for accessing the trade benefits of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .

In that regard, Ramón Ruvalcaba, Supply Chain Director at Kasai Mexicana , agreed on the point about digitalization and modernization, and considered that given the high dependence on foreign inputs, the focus should be on regional content.

“We must focus on adding regional content and mastering the rules to minimize costs, because any impact goes directly to the market. So, as long as we remain in this situation, with this dependence on foreign countries, we have to work hard on regional content, on adding value in assembly and manufacturing,” he emphasized.

Participants felt that companies are no longer just looking for suppliers capable of delivering on time, but for partners who can demonstrate documentary compliance, responsiveness, and transparency in the origin of their inputs .

Another point addressed was the increase in customs inspection times. According to Gimena León, processes that previously could be completed in 24 or 48 hours now face more detailed reviews related to the value, tariff classification, and origin of the goods, extending the time to more than 48 hours. This has led several companies to increase safety stock levels to avoid production interruptions.

The expert indicated that maintaining larger inventories adds more costs. In addition to tied-up capital, companies must absorb expenses related to storage, delays, and potential penalties. Therefore, visibility across the logistics chain becomes a determining factor in balancing compliance and efficiency.

The panelists also agreed that foreign trade can no longer be handled solely by a specialized department. Finance, purchasing, logistics, production, legal, and foreign trade must all work under a unified strategy .

In this context, Francisco Méndez Aguiñaga, director general of the Bajío region’s Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) , stated that foreign trade has already changed, and therefore, past procedures are no longer sufficient for the present and future. Given this, he urged the strengthening of processes through the integration of different departments .

The importance of strengthening these capabilities is reflected in the current economic context. According to the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) , in 2025, customs revenue registered a real increase of 15.5% compared to the same period in 2024, totaling a cash flow of 1,449,461.35 million pesos.

The panel discussed the challenge facing the automotive industry in maintaining agile supply chains in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The conclusion was clear: competitiveness will not depend solely on producing more or reducing costs . The ability to integrate information, guarantee compliance, and ensure the continuity of supply chains will determine which companies manage to adapt to the new rules of international trade.

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The  International Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (ICC Mexico) warned that the next review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , scheduled for July 2026, will take place in an environment full of risks, which, if they materialize, could compromise the country’s economic future and the stability of the region.

The organization detailed that among these risks, according to a specialized technical analysis by 17 commissions and working groups of ICC Mexico, are: customs reforms that could raise costs; possible protectionist tensions in the United States; regulatory uncertainty in strategic sectors; pressures regarding automotive rules of origin; and concerns about legal stability , especially derived from changes in the judiciary and in the mechanisms for resolving disputes between states and investors.

In response, ICC Mexico recently presented the Ministry of Economy with a comprehensive proposal for adjustments and improvements to the treaty, with the aim of strengthening legal certainty, trade facilitation, and the ability to attract investment in an increasingly challenging global context.

He also made an urgent appeal to the Mexican government to address two strategic risks, which were included in the document “Contributions and vision of ICC Mexico within the framework of the USMCA review” .

In that regard, the organization indicated that the possible modification to the sunset clause would imply that the treaty could automatically expire without transition periods , generating an impact on supply chains, investments and jobs in the three countries.

“Modifying that clause could unleash an environment of uncertainty incompatible with the dynamics of an integrated economy valued at almost two trillion dollars annually,” he stressed.

The other risk is the threat to digital trade established in Article 19 of the USMCA, an area that currently underpins North American technological integration.

The business organization announced that it will join forces with ICC Canada and ICC USA to make the voice of the productive sector heard in the process, promote the extension of the trilateral agreement and strengthen the resilience of production chains in the face of China, Asia and Europe.

He noted that the business perspective identified concerns, warnings of potential adverse changes, and concrete proposals to improve the USMCA, among which the following stand out:

Customs and trade facilitation: Risks of overregulation and duplication of controls that increase costs and delay operations, therefore it recommended strengthening the Single Window for Foreign Trade and avoiding unilateral changes without implementation periods.

Economic competition: There is concern about the lack of clarity in anti-competitive practices and the need to strengthen the technical autonomy of regulatory authorities, which led to the proposal to harmonize trilateral criteria, reinforce investigation standards and allow competition cases to access effective dispute resolution mechanisms.

Digital economy and data protection: It is essential to preserve the free cross-border flow of data, prevent discriminatory taxes on digital platforms and ensure common cybersecurity frameworks.

ICC Mexico stressed that the country must negotiate from a strategic perspective and with coordinated policies between government, private sector and congress, to avoid conditions that limit future economic growth.

Among the cross-cutting proposals, he highlighted a trilateral framework for regional development and sustainable financing; legal certainty and respect for the rule of law as an explicit principle in the treaty; updating the digital chapter with data protection standards and artificial intelligence; and promoting investment in automotive, semiconductor, clean energy and nearshoring , among others.

The challenges identified by the agency occur in a context where, on November 19,  the decree reforming, adding to, and repealing various provisions of the Customs Law was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF). These changes aim to modernize processes, strengthen oversight, and close loopholes for smuggling and evasion at Mexican customs. However, the reform has been criticized because it expands the verification duties of customs agents, makes them jointly responsible  for the veracity of information, and  toughens the grounds for canceling licenses, among other measures.

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