Borderlands Mexico is a weekly summary of developments in the world of US-Mexico cross-border shipping and trade. This week: Customs overhaul may change cross-border manufacturing, expert says Transportation Capacity Services opens Monterrey office to strengthen US-Mexico transportation. And WeShip Express is moving its headquarters to Austin.
Customs overhaul may change cross-border production, expert says
Mexico’s sweeping customs reforms in 2026 could tighten enforcement across the country’s manufacturing sector while increasing the compliance burden for importers and customs brokers, according to Jonathan Todd, vice president of the shipping and logistics group at law firm Benesch.
The upcoming changes — expected to take effect Jan. 1 — are among the most significant changes to Mexico’s trade governance in recent years, Todd said in an interview with FreightWaves.
“There is a fair amount of tax evasion and smuggling of Chinese goods and other raw materials into Mexico,” Todd said, outlining a common concern among U.S. manufacturers. “Stronger enforcement will help U.S. manufacturers compete on a more level playing field.”
The customs reform imposes heavy obligations and liabilities on Mexican customs brokers (agentes aduanales), who currently operate under one of the most stringent licensing systems in the world.
Unlike the United States, where importers can register through U.S. Customs and Border Protection, nearly all commercial imports entering Mexico must be processed by a broker.
Under the revised law, customs brokers will be jointly liable with importers for undervaluation, misclassification and false declarations. Brokers will also have to report irregular transactions to authorities, a change that Todd describes as potentially transformative.
“Mexico-based customs brokers are really the parties that will have the biggest compliance burden,” he said. It wouldn’t be impossible, but it’s not often that you’re talking about jail time or multi-million dollar fines – and that’s now possible under the law.
Related: New customs rules could slow cross-border trade, expert says
Producers covered by Mexico’s IMMEX program — which is critical for temporary imports that support maquiladora production — will face tighter controls.
Temporary imports must now be more aligned with production and re-export requirements, and companies whose IMMEX licenses have been revoked have only 60 days to regularize or export their inventory. These rules can have uneven effects depending on the type of manufacturing operation involved, Todd said.
“Every operation affiliated with this program must comply,” he said. “For some operations, the compliance burden will be significant.”
Higher compliance costs could translate into higher production costs in Mexico, Todd noted. But the logistics operation itself – the transportation and handling of goods at the border – should undergo few structural changes.
“I don’t expect this to change the way cross-border shipping works,” he said. “The real change may be the higher cost of production in Mexico, but it’s potentially a level playing field for US producers.”
He said the customs reform is also in line with Mexico’s broader strategy ahead of a joint U.S.-Mexico-Canada review of the agreement next year.
Mexico’s new customs status comes as the United States, Mexico and Canada prepare for a joint review of the USMCA next year — a process that could affect rules of origin, duty-free eligibility thresholds and sector-specific regulations.
The idea of USMCA and NAFTA was to create a strong trade bloc in North America, Todd said. “My personal reaction to this legislation is that it is consistent with those goals.”
Transportation Capacity Services opens Monterrey office to strengthen US-Mexico transportation
Transportation Capacity Services (TCS) has opened a new office in Monterrey, Mexico, expanding its cross-border logistics footprint and strengthening support for US-Mexico freight movements.
The Monterrey location brings TCS closer to one of Mexico’s largest manufacturing and transportation hubs, allowing it to better manage complex, high-volume operations on both sides of the border, the company said.
CEO Ben Enriquez said the expansion reflects continued demand for cross-border trade despite tariff uncertainty, noting that roughly 80 percent of Mexico’s exports go to the United States.
“While tariffs and market conditions are uncertain, cross-border trade is essential for many businesses and will continue to grow,” Enriquez said in a statement. Mexico is home to some of the world’s largest producers and exporters. Being there allows us to better serve our customers.
TCS provides cross-border, domestic, intermodal and cross-dock services supported by CTPAT certified carriers and technology-based freight visibility tools.
WeShip Express is moving its headquarters to Austin
WeShip Express has moved its corporate headquarters from Bradenton, Florida, to Austin, Texas, citing the city’s tech talent, entrepreneurial culture and logistics ecosystem as key drivers for its next phase of growth.
The global logistics and compliance provider, which specializes in direct shipping of wine and spirits, said the move will support the development of compliance automation, temperature-controlled logistics and e-commerce fulfillment.
The Austin headquarters will also allow for job growth and strategic acquisitions as the company expands its technology and logistics platform through 2026, CEO Mark Goodfriend said.
The post Borderlands Mexico: Customs overhaul may change cross-border manufacturing, expert says appeared first on FreightWaves.
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