Almost the majority (80%) of imports under irregular schemes detected in the special program used by the maquiladora and import manufacturing industries (IMMEX) in Mexico correspond to sectors such as footwear and textiles , explained Félix Wilfrido Márquez Sánchez, general director of Trade Facilitation and Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economy (SE) , after this federal office earlier notified five cancellations of this program due to an alleged simulation of manufacturing processes with front companies.
This action was the second operation that the SE has carried out as part of Operation Cleanup, this time in the states of Baja California (four IMMEX programs) and Jalisco (one program).
The measure seeks to protect the national industry and prevent the misuse of tax benefits, according to the federal agency headed by Marcelo Ebrard.
“In total, the evasion detected in this and the first phase of the operation amounts to 24 billion pesos in simulated temporary imports, which seriously affects the national industry and the Public Treasury,” Márquez Sánchez said at a press conference.
Leading industrial sector representatives present at the press conference agreed on the need to strengthen customs controls and tighten rulesto prevent abuses in foreign trade.
Alejandro Malagón Barragán, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States (Concamin) , stressed the importance of the federal government’s strategy to curb unfair competition.
“If we, through the president and the Secretary of Economy, implement Plan Mexico to halt imports and increase production, what we’re seeing is customs becoming the most important link in the chain for national production,” the industrial leader asserted.
From the footwear sector, Juan Carlos Cashat Usabiaga, president of the National Chamber of the Footwear Industry (Canaical) , recognized the efforts of the Mexican government and warned about the impact of uncontrolled imports.
“In recent years, we’ve seen footwear imports under the IMMEX program skyrocket, rising from 3.7 million to more than 40 million pairs by 2024. The problem isn’t just the volume, but that much of this footwear enters without complying with regulations and is illegally traded in the domestic market, affecting thousands of formal jobs,” he stated.
Márquez Sánchez, from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, also announced that the government is working on a strategy based on new technologies to improve the oversight of import and export processes.
The goal of this initiative is to ensure that the benefits of development programs reach only those who comply with regulations and operate within the legal framework.
“Our approach is to protect the national industry without considering external factors as determining factors. The priority is to ensure that commercial activity remains within a legal and transparent environment,” said Márquez Sánchez.
Textile industry, a battle against illegality
José Pablo Maauad Pontón, president of the National Chamber of the Clothing Industry (Canaive) , stressed that these measures send a clear message about the importance of compliance with the law .
“For years, we have called for firm action against these illegal practices. The current administration has demonstrated a real will to enforce the rules and protect the industry. Legality in foreign trade is key to job creation and national growth,” he said.
Along the same lines, Rafael Zaga Saba, president of the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex) , emphasized the need to eradicate unfair competition.
“We’ve had eight negative quarters in the textile industry, and that’s largely due to these fraudulent practices. Mexico is highly competitive and can produce world-class textiles, but we need a market where everyone competes on a level playing field. We applaud this government effort and hope it continues,” he said.
The Director of Trade Facilitation announced that operations will continue in other key sectors, such as steel and aluminum , and that work is underway to disqualify the shareholders and partners of the sanctioned companies to prevent them from operating under new registrations.
“The IMMEX program’s beneficiary registry includes approximately 6,000 companies, and although not all of them operate fraudulently, we will continue to collaborate with the industry and the SAT to identify those who abuse the system,” explained Márquez Sánchez.
With these actions, the government reaffirms its commitment to strengthening national industry, protecting jobs, and eradicating unfair trade practices.
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