Mexico

The United Mexican States (Mexico) is Latin America’s 2nd largest economy (by nominal GDP) and the 14th largest globally. With a population of about 129 million people, Mexico is a rapidly growing ecommerce market, driven by expanding internet penetration, a young consumer base, and strong cross-border trade with the United States. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mexico’s comparative price level is around 70, meaning Mexican consumers pay on average 30% less than Americans for the same product, making it a price-sensitive but high-volume market.

Key info

Country code (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2): MX
Country code top-level domain (ccTLD): .mx
Currency (ISO4217): Mexican Peso MXN
World Trade Organization (WTO) Status: Member

Duty information

Mexico applies tariffs under the Tarifa de la Ley de los Impuestos Generales de Importación y de Exportación (TIGIE), administered by the Tax Administration Service (SAT) and Mexican Customs (Aduanas).

Most Favored Nation (MFN) duty rates typically range from 0% to 35%, depending on the product.
Many industrial inputs, machinery, and IT goods enter duty-free.
Duty is calculated on the CIF value - the value of goods, shipping and insurance combined.
For courier shipments originating from USMCA with an FOB value between USD $50–117, a flat duty and tax rate of 17% applies (known as tasa global).
- For shipments originating from USMCA with an FOB value over USD $117, normal duty and taxes apply.
For courier shipments from other countries with a value of up to USD $2,500, there a flat, simiplified, duty and tax rate of 19% (known as tasa global).

Sales tax

Mexico applies a VAT (IVA, Impuesto al Valor Agregado) on most goods and services, including imports at a standard rate of 16%. VAT is calculated on the value of goods, duty, shipping and insurance.

Additional taxes & charges

Excise Tax (IEPS, Impuesto Especial sobre Producción y Servicios): Applies to alcohol, tobacco, gasoline, sugary drinks, and certain luxury goods.
Environmental levies may apply to plastics, tires, and automotive imports.
Anti-dumping duties (ADD) and countervailing duties (CVD) may be imposed on specific goods.
Customs Processing Fee (DTA) of 0.8% on all shipments.

De minimis thresholds

Mexico currently has no de minimis for duty or VAT. However, there is one exemption that applies to courier shipments only, which contain goods originating from USMCA (US or Canada). In which case, there is a duty and tax de minimis threshold of USD $50, below which no duty or tax is payable. De minimis is calculated on the FOB value in this scenario.

Free trade agreements

Mexico is one of the most open economies in the world, with an extensive FTA network covering over 50 countries. Major agreements include:

CUSMA/USMCA: Duty-free access for most goods from the US and Canada (rules of origin apply).
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP): With Japan, Canada, Australia, and other Pacific Rim countries.
Mexico–EU Global Agreement: Provides tariff elimination on most goods of EU origin.
Mexico–EFTA, Pacific Alliance, and multiple bilateral FTAs: Covering Latin America, Israel, and other key markets.

Prohibited & restricted goods

Mexico enforces import restrictions through Customs, the Ministry of Economy, and other agencies. Restricted or prohibited goods include:

Firearms, ammunition, and explosives (without permits)
Narcotics, psychotropic substances, and precursor chemicals
Counterfeit goods, pirated media, and trademark-infringing products
Endangered species and wildlife products (CITES restrictions)\
Certain foodstuffs, plants, and animals (subject to sanitary/phytosanitary permits)
Hazardous chemicals and toxic waste
Used clothing (for resale, commercial import restricted)
Cultural property and archaeological artifacts (requires authorization)

An official list of restricted and prohibited goods is available from Mexico Customs (SAT/Aduanas) website.