The  Ministry of Economy (SE)  concluded the consultations on the review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) that took place during October of this year, and which served as a space for direct dialogue with 30 productive sectors and with key actors in each of the 32 states of the country .

“These working groups made it possible to identify the issues that the participants consider priorities in foreign trade to boost the competitiveness of the Mexican economy within the framework of the USMCA,” the federal agency said in a press release.

In addition to the roundtable discussions, a questionnaire was distributed to gather more in-depth information on the private sector’s proposals . As of November 5, more than two thousand questionnaires had been received for the state consultations and at least 500 from representatives of various economic sectors.

The information gathered at the roundtables and in the questionnaires will be processed and integrated into a document that will be presented to the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and to the Senate of the Republic in January 2026, as part of building a national position towards the review of the USMCA.

The sectoral roundtables that took place were: heavy vehicles; logistics ; milk, dairy products and derivatives; beverages and processed foods; furniture and paper; mining; chemicals; plastics and toys; Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); professional and business services; agro-industry.

Also, light vehicles; energy and petrochemicals; metal products, metalworking and derivatives; circular economy; aerospace; footwear, textiles and clothing; cement, glass and ceramics; electrical manufacturing; agriculture; livestock chains; creative industries; electronics; steel and aluminum; tourism; real estate and construction; health, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics; auto parts and tires; fishing and social economy.

Marcelo Ebrard, head of the SE, highlighted that this consultation process is unprecedented, since an open process to be able to give opinions had never been carried out in Mexico before.

It is worth noting that the working groups are only one part of the effort that the Mexican government, through the Ministry of Economy, is making to form a negotiating position that reflects the national interest in the most comprehensive way possible .

In addition, there is a USMCA microsite where interested parties can upload comments and proposals ; simultaneously, union dialogues are being carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) .

With this process, Mexico is moving forward in an orderly and transparent manner towards the review of the USMCA, ensuring that the voice of the productive sectors is taken into account and recognizing the economic and social particularities of each state and sector.

“The Ministry of Economy reaffirms its commitment to promoting more equitable conditions for Mexican companies within the framework of the USMCA and thus strengthening regional integration, ensuring that the national position responds to the realities and needs of the country,” the agency stated.

According to analysts, the review of the USMCA will be complex due to the  protectionist economic policy  promoted by the United States,  which  has triggered a tariff war  with several countries around the world, and its main trading partners in the North American region: Mexico and Canada.

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The Senate approved yesterday the reform to the Customs Law , considered one of the most significant transformations of the Mexican foreign trade regulatory framework in recent decades. However, according to experts, it is discretionary and does not contribute to the modernization of the sector.

The initiative—endorsed in general with 78 votes in favor, 37 against, and one abstention, and in particular with 77 votes in favor, 38 against, and one abstention—seeks to increase revenue and combat tax evasion .

It also tightens fiscal control measures and procedures for the import and export of goods, with the aim of combating fuel trafficking and corruption in the sector.

However, as Fernando Ramos Casas , a foreign trade consultant, had already pointed out, the reform is restrictive and discretionary , and “does nothing to contribute to modernization and facilitation.”

The specialist considered that the new Customs Law puts customs agents in check, giving them more responsibilities and toughening penalties, placing them in the “dock of the accused . “

For its part, the private sector has warned that the Customs Law could represent a “knockout” for foreign trade, by  increasing the regulatory burden and toughening penalties for customs agents and companies .

As T21 previously reported, the federal government has presented this new regulation as a decisive step toward the digitalization and traceability of international trade, although business leaders view it differently, noting that it creates legal uncertainty in foreign trade.

The senators approved the initiative with a modification to its first transitory article , which establishes that the rule will take effect on January 1, 2026, with some exceptions.

The presidential reform seeks to curb tax evasion and avoidance resulting from the importation of goods into the country. It includes 65 amendments, 44 additions, and nine repeals to the Customs Law, proposed by the head of the federal executive branch.

Fernando Ramos believes the current administration lacks a clear understanding of what the world of customs entails.

“When they looked at what tax collection entailed, they said, ‘This is where we belong, and they want to collect more,’ but what’s going to happen with this reform is that smuggling will increase, corruption will increase, and then public finances will go down, because we’re not questioning how the system is working,” he emphasized.

The specialist has pointed out that a reform of the Mexican customs system is required , rather than a reform of the law on the matter.

The ruling approved the day before was returned to the Chamber of Deputies for review with the changes made.

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Cutting-edge technology, institutional transparency, risk management, and public-private collaboration are the four strategic pillars through which the Mexican customs system must be modernized in order to streamline the legitimate flow of goods and people, combat corruption, facilitate foreign trade, and ensure the country’s competitiveness in the face of the challenges posed by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and other international treaties, according to the Association of Women Customs Officers (AMA) .

Gina Estrada , president of AMA, emphasized that achieving this requires a comprehensive reform of the Customs Law , which updates the regulatory framework to reflect the new dynamics of international trade, e-commerce, and the commitments assumed by Mexico.

In this regard, he said that this reform should simplify processes, reduce time and costs, strengthen ethical oversight, and prevent abuses in logistics services.

“The law must adapt to digital realities and offer certainty to foreign trade operators,” he stressed.

Achieving the four pillars of customs modernization requires the use of artificial intelligence (AI), digital platforms, biometrics, predictive analytics to strengthen operational efficiency and security, among other tools.

“Customs offices must cease to be bottlenecks and become smart hubs for connection, facilitation, and border protection,” Estrada explained.

In the Senate of the Republic , the AMA proposed to Rafael Marín Mollinedo , head of the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) , the signing of an inter-institutional collaboration agreement, which will allow the AMA to actively participate in the transformation of the customs system and requested that ANAM officials join the diploma courses that will be organized in the Senate by the association, as part of the joint efforts to build a more agile, secure, transparent and competitive commercial environment for Mexico.

Estrada indicated that promoting ongoing training and professionalization of customs personnel is key to building a customs office fit for the future.

He considered that among the most urgent challenges facing ANAM are the implementation of advanced automated inspection systems, strengthening anti-corruption control mechanisms, harmonizing regulations with the USMCA, and facilitating border crossings.

On the other hand, he emphasized, during the presentation of awards to the head of ANAM for his drive for institutional transformation, as well as to the heads of Mexico’s customs, that there are also opportunities, such as the complete digitalization of procedures, the strengthening of the national supply chain , and the construction of strategic alliances with the private sector , academia, and specialized organizations such as the AMA.

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