The National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) highlighted five sources of information from the U.S. CBP.

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, under the Department of Homeland Security, regulates customs procedures and facilitation measures. It oversees operations at 328 land, sea and air ports of entry, in addition to activities in 50 countries.

CBP Information

Index briefed its members on relevant aspects of the Mexico-U.S.-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and how the parties can implement preferential treatment, considering the recent Executive Order on tariffs on products of Mexican origin. 

Created in 1973, Index is a civil association that brings together 18 local associations. It represents some 1,300 companies under the IMMEX program, designed to boost Mexican exports.

CBP offers a number of free and publicly accessible resources, available in English and Spanish. Their dissemination to interested parties is highly recommended. 

Below are CBP’s resources on USMCA:

USMCA website: contains compliance guides, fact sheets, webinars, videos and other essential resources: USMCA-CBP. 

USMCA Overview Presentation: Provides an overview of the treaty and CBP resources for compliance: PowerPoint presentation.

Informative videos with Spanish subtitles: 

• Introduction to the USMCA: Watch video. 
• How to make a claim under the USMCA: Watch video.
• Verification Process: Watch video. 

Advance Rulings: CBP issues binding rulings to facilitate understanding of the treatment of future imports. 

• More information: Advance Rulings.
• Consult previous rulings on the USMCA: Database.

Certification of Origin: The USMCA requires a certification with nine minimum elements specified in Annex 5-A. CBP provides a suggested format: Certification of Origin Template (Note: Works best in Internet Explorer). 

Contacts and Assistance 

For specific shipping inquiries or ACE system problems, the Index recommended contacting the specialized teams: 

• Import Specialist Team: Directory (automotive, pharmaceutical, apparel, etc.).
• CBP Information Center: CBP Help Desk or hotline 1-877-CBP-5511 (available in Spanish). 
• CBP Trade Office (Textile and Trade Agreements Division): FTA@CBP.DHS.gov / USMCA@CBP.DHS.gov The membership is encouraged to review these resources and take advantage of the information available to ensure compliance with USMCA requirements.