In this article, you will learn everything about what are the general rules of foreign trade and its importance in international trade relations. So I invite you to join us because it will be a very useful and interesting topic. It will surprise you!
What are the general rules of foreign trade?
The import and / or export of merchandise are processes that are carried out daily in the ports of the world, and Mexico does not escape it, it works under a number of general rules, which, as its name indicates, serve to regulate customs trade processes. , so that everything is done under the corresponding laws and tax regulations.
If you are a frequent traveler or a merchant who must implement import or export procedures for your merchandise, you should know what are the general rules of foreign trade, how they work and what advantages you can get from them. These changes constantly, so the information must be updated from time to time, so that we can avoid inconveniences (fines, surcharges and suspension) during the customs process. Oh yes!
Requirements to understand what are the general rules of foreign trade
Within the Register of exporters and importers, there are many general rules for foreign trade, so it is highly recommended that if you want to carry out a specific procedure, look exactly for that particular process, because not all rules are necessary for all cases.
There are many international trade consultants and customs professionals who can help you with the exact current requirements you require for the process, whether it is import or export. In the same way, we are going to mention the most important ones, among them are:
Rules 1.1.2
This rule is based on valid and reliable official documents that allow customs agencies to verify your identity under different credentials. It is important to mention that each agency can request a different current official credential, or two in different cases, in any case, it must deliver the ones requested, to avoid stopping the legal process with the procedures or larger amounts.
Also, it indicates us as important requirements, to place the real address, both personal and business, since, in this way, it will be possible to inspect, if necessary, the corresponding merchandise, the quantities that are presented in the documents, to verify which corresponds to what is indicated by the Notary Public and the customs records.
It should be noted that if the taxpayer owes money in some of its processes, the inspection at the address that is presented in the records will be a step that the authorities will take. And if they find any inconvenience, it could become a big problem.
Rules 1.3.2
In this case, the rule specifies the cases in which we must register with the Importers Register, the Exporters Register, or the sectoral or specific Register. Let us remember that in Mexico, registration with the Register of exporters and importers is a fundamental requirement, whether the user is a natural or legal person, they must register to pay taxes and carry out the required procedures.
If you are a liquor, chemical or other product dealer, such as weapons, it is necessary to register in the Specific Sector Register, since special procedures, permits or specific licenses are requested for some sectors, which are found within this register. .
Rules 1.5
In this rule, it is clearly spoken about the tariff fractions of each merchandise, depending on the sector in which they are found. It is important to always know to which sector our product or merchandise belongs, know the total quantities, weight, etc. To know very well the cost of taxes for each of them.
Rules 1.7
In this section, the security means are mentioned, in this case, sanitary permits, licenses for food, materials, raw materials, etc. Some of these legal procedures cannot be ignored, because if this is the case, the merchant or the user may lose their merchandise.
Rules 3.4
In this rule the fringes or border areas are mentioned, which, for the most part, have a greater advantage over others, in terms of commercial alliances. Because the commercial movement is daily, so people do not require so many procedures to enter or take merchandise from one area to another.
In the north of Mexico, it is very common to observe commercial transactions on the border with the United States, and being an area with a lot of foreign trade, certain facilities are provided to merchants, so that they can sell or buy without so many restrictions. , as it would be under the Register of exporters and importers in a normal way.
If you want to know a little more about the guidelines for customs procedures imposed by the government, then I invite you to read this interesting article, which explains in detail why this happens and who benefits: Barriers to international trade.
Annex 2 (Rules: 1.1.7)
In this section, we can find the legal procedures to impose fines or sanctions on those who do not have their licenses, permits and duly correct paperwork, and even those who fail to pay the corresponding customs procedures, registered in the list of exporters and importers.
Within the regulatory annexes
It is important to know that within each annex with its respective regulations, we will be able to find the following aspects:
- Annex 4: All customs operating hours are contained.
- Annex 5: All the specific regulatory order for both customs procedures and international trade itself.
- Annex 9: Everything that includes merchandise from the health sector, its tariff fractions and the licenses required for the entire process, in addition to the sanctions that occur when failing to comply with any procedure.
- Annex 11: The entire fiscal zone to which international transactions must be proceeded, these are important to review every 12 months, so that the information is constantly updated (Essential organisms for said processes are included).
- Annex 14: This section includes everything related to oil, hydrocarbons, petrochemicals, among others. All the corresponding process, the valid organisms that govern the entire procedure, the licenses and their respective tariff fractions (includes sanctions or fines).
- Annex 15: Specifies the entire duration of the shipments, the corresponding deadlines and the distances involved in the maritime route (This varies depending on the sectoral pattern in which the products to be imported and/or exported are located).
- Annex 16: This annex specifies very well all the customs that validate the customs procedures for the transfer of merchandise in the border area to the north of Mexico, that must cross the border and those that return again, so that all the procedures are presented required and the competent bodies that must review the entire corresponding protocol.
- Annex 22: It shows us the entire process for the correct and complete filling of each procedure that corresponds to the sectoral standard of our merchandise. (Note: This section is very important and should not be overlooked, also keep it updated in case any changes occur).
- Annex 23: This section contains everything related to the shipment and transport of any merchandise that poses a danger, that requires great security measures, specific equipment for its transfer, etc. The corresponding licenses, deadlines, rates, tariff fractions, sanitary biosafety measures, etc. are included.
- Annex 24: All automated inventory controls are fully included in this annex, their due protocols and the licenses or permits required for each product or merchandise.
- Annex 26: Mention all the processes, data and elements that have been omitted by the corresponding agencies for the customs process in Mexico.
- Annex 27: There are some goods that do not require the payment of VAT, so it is important to know in detail all the products that are there, so that you avoid paying a little more.
- Annex 30: It deals with all declarations of goods that correspond to both individuals and legal entities, in the case of any promotion or name-type brands, and even mixed. (This will depend on the amounts and the receipts that are presented at the time of said declaration).
- Annex 31: Check all the guarantees subject to each procedure, the credit accounts, the payments of each rate (depending on the type of tariff), to which the merchandise is subject.
These annexes and their respective regulations vary constantly, and sometimes the agencies can even omit procedures included in the foreign trade regulations (depending on the commercial alliances that have been previously signed and/or the border areas).
If a person, whether natural or moral, is unaware of the sector to which their product or merchandise belongs, this does not mean that they can fail to comply with the respective procedure, because they must be well informed before starting said procedures, for this reason, it is recommended proper advice.
Importance of knowing what the general rules of foreign trade are
The resolutions that explain in detail what are the general rules of foreign trade, vary each year, so it is important to be very well informed about these updates to avoid spending money and time on procedures that may no longer be necessary.
Remember that these rules allow travelers and merchants to have facilities when carrying out export or import processes with their products. On the other hand, we can mention that there are associations that can help us with the procedures, processes, licenses, etc. When requesting these customs procedures, such as the ANIERM.
This organization, in partnership with several national and international government agencies, makes trade alliances between Mexico and other countries as simple as possible, creating linking mechanisms without many requirements. If you'd like to learn more about this organization, I invite you to read this interesting article: .
Also, if you want to have a much clearer idea about this important topic to understand what are the rules general foreign trade, then you should watch the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j23MDYa19hM
History of foreign trade in Mexico
