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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 426/2

3 February 2015

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 105/2015

Mexico : Comprehensive Progamme to Fight Unfair Textile and Apparel Imports

The Mexican government has recently announced a set of measures aimed at combatting unfair trade practices affecting the textile and apparel sector and enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of domestic manufacturers in the face of mounting foreign competition.

DETAILS

2.In gist, the programme includes six specific customs measures involving import duties, importer registration, automatic alerts, enhanced surveillance and minimum estimated. Below is a summary of the six measures.

  1. Importers of textile and apparel products of HS Chapters 50 through 63 will be required to be listed on a sector-specific registry, and those who are not listed would not be allowed to import;
  1. An automatic alert system would be set up for textile and apparel imports, which will allow customs officials to verify imported goods in advance;
  1. Mexico's Tax Administration Service (Servicio de Administración Tributaria, or SAT) will put in place a system of controls for importers of undervalued goods and their clients;
  1. Implementation of import duty reduction from 25 percent to 20 percent on 73 apparel items and seven textile made-ups on import from countries with which Mexico has free trade agreements has been postponed to 2018;
  1. Minimum estimated prices will be set for raw materials and finished goods. Relevant details are at Annex (pdf format); and
  1. Levy of tariff on textile and apparel imports will be expanded from the 8-digit to the 10-digit level.

3.In addition, the Mexican government will implement a new financing mechanism with total available credit of 450 million pesos over the next 12 months to enable the textile and apparel sector (especially SMEs) to upgrade their machinery and equipment, pursue innovative strategies and develop new products.

4.Moreover, Mexico's National Foreign Trade Bank (Bancomext) will enhance financing opportunities for the textile and apparel sector through a comprehensive programme that will include (i) direct credit for companies that are currently exporting or are seeking to export their products; (ii) international factoring; and (iii) the provision of letters of credit for import and export transactions carried out by SMEs.

5.Also, the Service Agency for the Commercialisation and Development of Agricultural Markets (Aserca) will support the purchase of cotton from domestic growers by textile manufacturers.

6.For details of the above measures, please refer to the relevant official notices (in Spanish) at

http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5377391&fecha=26/12/2014,
http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5377395&fecha=26/12/2014,
http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5377594&fecha=29/12/2014 and
http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5375349&fecha=10/12/2014.

ENQUIRIES

7.For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact Mr Lewis LAU at telephone number 2398 5405.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Janice LAU)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.