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Mexico’s customs reforms fall short despite stricter broker controls

Stricter permits and polygraphs won’t fix Mexico’s customs chaos. With 250 brokers handling millions of shipments, why are critical reforms still missing?

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
In the picture we can see a magazine on it we can see some information in the language Spanish.
In the picture we can see a magazine on it we can see some information in the language Spanish.

Mexico’s customs reforms fall short despite stricter broker controls

Mexico’s latest reforms to its Customs Law and foreign trade rules have left critical gaps unaddressed. Despite efforts to modernise, key issues—such as certification processes and conflict-of-interest rules—remain unresolved. The changes also introduce stricter controls for customs brokers, who already manage millions of shipments with far fewer staff than their US counterparts.

Starting in 2026, Mexico’s customs brokers will see their indefinite licences replaced by 20-year permits, renewable for another two decades. The Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT) will also begin administering polygraph tests for these professionals. Yet authorities have not clarified how the triennial certification process will work, which agency will oversee the polygraphs, or how conflicts of interest will be handled.

The reforms fall short of fully modernising Mexico’s customs system. Unlike other nations, the updated rules do not include AI for risk analysis, blockchain for traceability, or public-private partnerships to streamline operations. Physical inspections of every shipment remain impractical, leaving robust digital tracking as the only viable solution to prevent import abuses.

Mexico’s 250 customs brokers currently process 11 million import declarations and oversee 23 million border crossings annually. In contrast, the US employs 14,000 brokers to handle roughly three times the volume. The new reforms add technical, administrative, and fiscal burdens for these professionals, arriving alongside fresh tariffs on 1,463 Asian goods.

The updated regulations increase demands on customs brokers without fully addressing inefficiencies. Digital transformation could enable real-time tracking, supplier checks, and industry-wide risk assessments—but these measures were not included. With nearshoring, tariff disputes, and rising e-commerce shipments, Mexico’s customs system still faces significant challenges ahead.

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