The Federal Government, in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office, investigates eight companies that would have illegally imported textile and footwear merchandise for an estimated value of 24,000 million dollars, the Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard reported Monday, according to a note from the reform website.
During the morning conference of President Claudia Sheinbaum, the official explained that companies simulated export operations under the IMMEX program, which allows you to import inputs temporarily without paying taxes, as long as they are destined for exports.
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However, after a review it was detected that the products did not leave the country and that the scheme to evade tariffs and commit smuggling acts was used.
“A review was made and we saw that eight companies made illegal use of this. That is, they were cheating on the Government of Mexico, saying ‘I am importing textiles or footwear’, and then export. We verified, checked and saw that they do not export it, they were lying,” the official explained.
As part of the measures, the bank accounts of the eight companies were frozen and their participation in the IMMEX program was canceled.
Ebrard explained that this investigation was derived from the decree published on December 19, 2024, which established a 25% tariff to 138 tariff fractions, mainly from the textile and footwear sector, with the aim of curbing the entry of undervalued products that affect the national industry.
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The actions, the secretary stressed, seek to stop smuggling, guarantee equitable conditions in the domestic market, increase competitiveness and protect legal trade, especially with the countries with which Mexico has commercial treaties.
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