Mexico activates new audit for textile imports

   The Mexican government is stepping up its implementation of recently introduced streamline audit procedures for the verification of textile products entering the country.
   The procedures seek to avoid the illegal transshipment of textiles and other products under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The new approach uses a sampling method with the intent to reduce the amount of paperwork, cost and time for U.S. companies to comply with the rules.
   Francisco Sánchez, U.S. undersecretary of commerce for international trade, and representatives from 20 U.S. textile companies joined Mexican government officials in Mexico City on Wednesday for a workshop regarding these new verification process.
   “I am pleased the Mexican authorities have implemented these new procedures,” Sánchez said in a statement. “There was a great deal of concern on the part of U.S. exporters about the costly and overly burdensome process that was in place for years. I appreciate Mexico hosting this workshop and being responsive to our industry’s concerns.”
   Mexico is the United States’ second largest export market, and trade between both nations was nearly $500 billion in 2012. The textile and apparel sector is a key component of the trade between the United States and Mexico, accounting for almost $10 billion last year. The sector had been significantly impacted by the previous product verification rules.
   “During the last 18 months, I have been contacted by more than two dozen U.S. textile companies alone, and I am pleased to lead a delegation of U.S. textile and other companies to Mexico to hear first-hand the new streamlined process,” Sánchez said.