Background on Claudia Sheinbaum and Her Relevance
Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, proposed a reform to the Customs Law. This move highlights her commitment to strengthening controls and sanctions against customs agents, making them responsible for all foreign trade operations they participate in.
The Proposed Reform Details
The reformed Customs Law aims to address several critical aspects of Mexico’s customs operations. Key changes include:
- Extending the validity of customs agent patents and authorizations from 10 to 20 years, with an additional 20-year extension possibility.
- Mandating customs agents to obtain certification every three years.
- Establishing a Customs Council responsible for granting, renewing, suspending, and revoking patents and authorizations.
Support for the Reform
Carol Antonio Altamirano, President of the House of Representatives’ Finance Committee (Morena), defended the reform, stating it addresses current challenges in international trade and combats organized crime.
Criticism of the Reform
Despite support, critics like Patricia Flores (Movement of Citizens) argue that the reform does not tackle corruption’s root causes within the government.
- Patricia Flores claims that major customs fraud originates from government offices, not customs booths.
- Jericó Abramo Masso (PRI) criticizes the lack of professionalization for customs officials and the excessive responsibility placed on private agents.
- Federico Döring (PAN) questions the reform’s effectiveness in combating tax evasion and increasing tax collection, as there is no estimated figure of additional taxes to be collected.
Key Questions and Answers
- What does the proposed Customs Law reform entail? The reform aims to make customs agents fully and solidarily responsible for foreign trade operations they participate in. It eliminates exclusions of responsibility from customs agents, ensuring agents verify the truthfulness and accuracy of information provided regarding imported or exported goods.
- What are the main changes in the reformed Customs Law? The reform extends patent and authorization validity for customs agents from 10 to 20 years (with another 20-year extension possibility), mandates three-year certification for agents, and establishes a Customs Council to manage patents and authorizations.
- What are the criticisms against the reform? Critics argue that the reform does not address corruption’s core issues within the government, lacks professionalization for customs officials, and places excessive responsibility on private agents without proper government oversight.
- How much additional tax revenue is expected from this reform? There is no estimated figure provided by the government on the potential increase in tax collection resulting from this reform.
Impact on Mexico’s Customs Operations
The proposed reform seeks to combat daily customs practices aimed at evading tax payments, such as smuggling and undervaluing goods. By holding customs agents more accountable, the reform intends to deter such illicit activities and promote transparency in Mexico’s customs operations.
