Mexico's ANAM proposes Customs Law reforms to combat undervaluation

The National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) is proposing reforms to the Customs Law to combat the undervaluation of goods in foreign trade operations. The initiative aims to protect national industry competitiveness and ensure the fulfillment of tariff obligations.

During a working meeting with the Chamber of Deputies' Finance and Public Credit Commission, ANAM officials proposed adjusting the parameters for precautionary seizures. The reform seeks to replace the current 50 percent valuation difference threshold with a new 20 percent limit to determine when a seizure can be substituted by a guarantee or cash deposit. This change is intended to address current operational limitations that allow undervalued goods to enter the country without sufficient legal tools for subsequent recovery.

To modernize customs management and risk assessment, ANAM is implementing the Value Intelligence System. This technological tool uses automated analysis algorithms to identify high-probability undervaluation cases by cross-referencing importer and customs agent compliance history, tariff classifications, and declared value discrepancies.