The Mexican government has stepped up efforts to prevent the undervaluation of imported goods and is now actively using reference prices for that purpose. This policy currently applies to textile, apparel and footwear items. Shipments of affected goods not accompanied by documentation sufficient to confirm the correct value could be seized and/or subject to penalties.Although this mechanism was created in December 2011 after the elimination ofthe transition duties that were in place on a range of mainland Chinese goods,the number of associated seizures has increased recently.


Mexico's Tax Administration Service (Servicio de Administracin Tributaria, orSAT) has determined that in 2011 68 percent of textile, apparel and footwear items imported from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other suppliers were entered at prices lower than the cost of raw materials used in their production. To discourage this practice, SAT has implemented a programme known as "Precios de Referencia" (reference prices) with respect to 413tariff lines for textile items and 59 tariff lines for footwear. These reference prices are determined on a computed value basis but will not be published in the Diario Oficial and importers will not have access to them. The specific tariff lines subject to reference prices have not been made publicly available either.


SAT officials have emphasised in several forums in Mexico that the reference prices are only used to analyse the risk of importers using lower values and are not used in deciding whether to reject or accept the value declared in entry summaries. However, if the merchandise is imported at a price lower than the reference price, Mexican Customs will require the importer to have a guarantee of import duties based on the reference price.


When an importer becomes aware that the price agreed with its supplier is lowit must obtain the proper documents to support that price and notify the customs broker of this situation. The broker will then include in the pedimento the code "PV" (prueba de valor, or proof of value) indicating that ithas the documentation to prove the transaction value and clear the shipment through customs. In this context Mexican Customs require the commercial invoice as well as the following documents.

  • Customs value declaration
  • Title of credit related to payment
  • Proof of payment/transfer of funds
  • Lease agreement
  • Insurance payment
  • Export declaration


In light of this new practice and the fact that the reference prices will remain unpublished, foreign suppliers of affected goods are advised to provide Mexican importers proper documentation to demonstrate the accuracy of the value declared during the import transactions. Otherwise, the merchandise could be seized and penalties could apply. Moreover, when goods are seized the importer's import licence is temporarily suspended, preventing the importer from conducting import operations for up to four months.


It is also worth mentioning that Mexico's National Apparel Industry Chamber (CNIV) has held discussions with the SE to assess the possibility of implementing an arrangement to better monitor and control imports of undervalued apparel. That mechanism would be similar to the arrangement that has been agreed for mainland Chinese footwear, with the main difference being that it would apply to apparel from all sources and not just mainland China. CNIV President Sergio Lpez de la Cerda has indicated that such a mechanism should be in place by the end of May and would involve the establishment of reference prices on a range of apparel items.


This article was originally published in the Stitch Times, July, 2012.