WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1  
 
9 July 2013  
(13-3496)  Page: 1/18  
Trade Policy Review Body  Original: Spanish  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
REPORT BY 
MEXICO 
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), the policy statement by Mexico 
is attached. 
 WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  Contents 
1   INTROD UCTION  .......................................................................................................... 3  
2   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................... 3  
2.1   Energy reform ........................................................................................................... 4  
2.2   Labour reform ........................................................................................................... 5  
3   MEXICO'S OPEN  TRADE POLICY .................................................................................. 5  
3.1   Strengthening of the mu ltilateral trading system ............................................................ 6  
3.2   Optimization of the existing  network of trad e agreements ............................................... 6  
3.2.1   North American co mpetitiveness agenda .................................................................... 6  
3.2.2   Protocol amending the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Mexico and Colombia .......... 7  
3.2.3   Protocol amending the Agreement between Japan and Mexico for the 
Strengthening of the Economic Partnership ........................................................................... 7  
3.2.4   Protocol amending the FT A between Mexico and Israel ................................................. 7  
3.3   Negotiation of  new agreements ................................................................................... 7  
3.3.1   Mexico-Peru Trade Integration Ag reement .................................................................. 7  
3.3.2   Inclusion of Mexico in the Trans- Pacific Partnership (T PP) negotiations ........................... 7  
3.3.3   Pacific Alliance  Framework Agreement ....................................................................... 8  
3.4   Convergence of agreements ........................................................................................ 8  
3.4.1   Mexico-Centr al America FTA ..................................................................................... 8  
3.4.2   Cumulation of origin for textiles in  favour of Mexico in the framework of the 
Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and 
the United States  (CAFTA-DR) ............................................................................................ 8  
3.5   Legal defence of Me xico's trade interest s ...................................................................... 8  
4   MEXICO AND THE MULTIL ATERAL TRADING SYSTEM .................................................. 9  
4.1   Trade policy .............................................................................................................. 9  
4.1.1   Tariffs ............................................................................................................... .... 9 
4.1.2   Trade facilitation .................................................................................................... 10 
4.1.3   In vestme nt ........................................................................................................... 11 
4.1.4   Services .............................................................................................................. . 12 
4.2   Intellectu al property ................................................................................................. 16 
4.3   Competit ion policy .................................................................................................... 17 
5   CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 17  
 WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  This Fifth Trade Policy Review of Mexico is taking place against the backdrop of the worst 
global financial crisis in 80 years. Since the middle of 2008, the world has seen a significant contraction in demand on the main export markets, with the result that the volume of trade and 
production has plummeted in most countries while unemployment has skyrocketed. All of this had 
a profound impact on Mexico's growth in 2009. 
1.2.  In spite of these circumstances, on the econ omic front Mexico's public finances are sound, its 
inflation is under control, its economic growth is stable at twice the average for members of the 
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), its banking system is adequately capitalized, it has a network of trade agreements providing for preferential access to markets which together account for three quarters of world GDP, and it has introduced measures 
that facilitate trade and contribute to the business climate. 
1.3.  Mexico continues to be committed to the multilateral trading system, with a trade policy that 
focuses on creating a favourable investment climate through the most ambitious unilateral tariff 
liberalization for over 20 years, trade facilitation , and improved protection of intellectual property 
rights. All of these commitments go hand in hand with the strengthening of the multilateral trading system. 
1.4.  This report is divided into five sections: the first describes Mexico's economic development 
and the impact of the global financial crisis; th e second explains the country's open trade policy 
and the role it has played in strengthening the economy; the third highlights the importance for Mexico of the multilateral trading system; and the fourth describes the most important 
components of its trade policy. The final section contains the conclusions. 
2  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 2.1.  There was no avoiding the negative impa ct of the world financial crisis on Mexico's 
international trade. It was in 2009 that the impa ct of the global economic slowdown on the 
country's economic growth was most strongly felt. The international environment inherited from the previous year had brought about a sharp fall in demand for Mexican exports, chiefly 
manufactures, not to mention constraints on external financing. The outbreak of 
influenza A(H1N1) further contributed to the fall in production during the first half of that year. In 2009, Mexico's GDP contracted by 5.95%. 
2.2.  That same year, Mexican exports suffered their worst decline in 60 years, falling 21% 
from US$291.3 billion to US$229.7 billion, while imports dropped 24%. Both exports and imports 
recovered considerably during 2010 and 2011, exports increasing by 30% and 17% respectively, and imports by 28% and 16% respectively.  In October 2012, Mexico's global trade increased 
by 14.7% year on year. 
2.3.  In the end, Mexican exports grew by 28.6% between 2007 and 2011, 
from 271.8 billion dollars to 349.5 billion dollar s. During that same period, imports grew 
by 24.4%, reaching 361 billion dollars in 2011. Thus, Mexico established itself as Latin America's 
leading exporter and importer. 
2.4.  However, the predicted decline in world econ omic growth, affecting in particular the country's 
main trading markets, will be a challenge for Me xico's export sector over the next few years. 
2.5.  A number of countercyclical measures were introduced to mitigate the negative impact of the 
international crisis. As a result, GDP recovered by 5.5% in 2010 and 3.9% in 2011, helped by the surge in exports and the recovery in private consumption and investment. 
2.6.  A growth of about 4% is forecast for 2012 and 2013. 
2.7.  Proper management of monetary policy targeting price stability ensured that the period of 
global financial turmoil and the resulting exchange rate adjustments did not adversely affect the 
price formation process in the Mexican economy.  Thanks to the country's strong economic WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  fundamentals, until 2011 inflation continued to a pproach the permanent target of 3% (with a 
margin of 1 percentage point), in spite of the deterioration in the external environment. 
2.8.  During 2012, the increase in the prices of agricultural products, including certain basic foods 
such as eggs, tomatoes, chicken and beef, led to an  increase in inflation beyond the target that 
had been set, to an annual rate of 4.6% in September of that year.  This inflationary situation is 
seen to be temporary, given the temporary nature of its origins: the underlying annual inflation during that month was 3.6%. 
2.9.  Although the Mexican economy has weathered the adverse global economic situation 
relatively well, a number of factors suggest that the environment could be even worse in the coming years. These include: 
- a possible economic slow-down in the United States; 
- greater volatility and uncertainty on the international financial markets owing to fiscal 
and banking problems in the euro area. This could encourage investors to relocate their assets and make it more difficult for the emerging economies like Mexico to attract 
resources; 
- a slow-down in the emerging economies like  China and India which could become more 
pronounced in the coming years, further affecting global demand. 
2.10.  Aware of these risks, the Government of Mexico has undertaken a series of structural 
reforms since the last trade policy review with a view to boosting productivity in order to achieve more rapid growth in aggregate demand without creating pressure on prices, to strengthen domestic sources of growth, and to stimulate economic growth.  Some of these reforms are 
described below. 
2.1  Energy reform 2.11.  On 28 November 2008, Mexico set out to strengthen and modernize its petroleum industry 
with the publication of seven decrees enacting, amending, supplementing and repealing a number 
of laws.
1 These decrees make up the Energy Reform. The idea was to strengthen certain control 
and surveillance mechanisms to foster transparency and accountability on the part 
of Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) in line with best corporate governance practices at the 
international level. 
2.12.  The reform rested on four guiding principles: 
- Corporate governance:  four professional advisers have been placed on the PEMEX Board 
of Directors. They are appointed by the Fe deral Executive and ratified by the Senate, 
with a clear mandate to generate economic value for Mexican society.  The decisions of the Board of Directors have to be approved by at least two of the professional advisers. 
- Transparency: the reform sought to strengthen control and monitoring procedures by 
introducing more effective transparency and accountability mechanisms and setting up a Transparency and Accountability Committee within the Board of Directors. This 
Committee may at any time conduct such investigations or internal audits as it deems 
necessary, and monitor and evaluate the financial and operational performance of PEMEX, both overall and by function. 
- Under this same guiding principle, citizen bonds were issued so that all Mexicans could 
share in the profits generated by PEMEX. At the same time, these bonds serve as a tool 
for enhancing transparency and accountability. Their yield is linked to PEMEX's financial performance. 
                                               
1 The laws enacted include the Petróleos Mexicanos law; the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy and 
Financing of Energy Transition; the Law on the Use of Sustainable Energy; and the Law on the National 
Hydrocarbons Commission. Article 3 wa s added to the Federal Law on Parast atal Entities; Article 1 was added 
to the Law on Public Works and Related Services; an d paragraph 3 was added to Article 1 of the Law on 
Acquisitions, Leases and Services of the Public Sector. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  - Budget: a new tax regime was introduced that will enable PEMEX to responsibly exploit 
more complex and costly land or deep sea oil fields. PEMEX will also be able to use its budget more freely, with greater flexibility as  regards financial consolidation. The reform 
enables PEMEX to obtain the external financing it needs and to enter into obligations 
constituting debt, in accordance with terms and conditions established by the Board of 
Directors. 
- Institutional:  the National Hydrocarbons Commission was set up as a decentralized 
agency of the Ministry of Energy (SENER).  It operates as a technical branch for 
exploration and production in accordance with international best practices. The Regulatory Commission for Energy (CRE)
2 retains full technical and operational 
autonomy and has been granted manage ment and decision-making autonomy. 
SENER was strengthened in order to enhance its authority to regulate hydrocarbons and 
to provide it with better planning tools. 
2.2  Labour reform 
2.13.  Since Mexico's labour legislation had failed to keep up with demographic, economic and 
social developments, and in the light of recommendations made by different international bodies, on 30 November 2012 Mexico enacted a bill reforming the Federal Labour Law in pursuit of 
two objectives: to promote the creation of more and better jobs by stimulating company 
productivity and seeking to formalize labour relations; and to strengthen the mechanisms 
introduced to ensure effective compliance with th e labour rights provided for in the Law.  Among 
other things, this reform: 
- establishes new types of contracts involving a trial period and training for up to 
six months, and seasonal contracts with salary , benefits, social security and seniority; 
- recognizes teleworking on an equal footing with home work, and at the same time 
penalizes its use as a way of simulating or evading employers' obligations; 
- makes it impossible for strikes to last indefinitely by providing for them to be submitted 
to arbitration by the Conciliation Board if they last more than 120 days; 
- provides for better union transparency by establishing the right for any worker (and not 
the authorities or third parties) to receive information concerning the management of union assets; 
- prohibits any kind of discrimination such as dismissal for pregnancy or requirement of 
non-pregnancy certificates. 
2.14.  The proper application of macroeconomic and countercyclical policies and the 
implementation of these structural reforms have  enabled Mexico to overcome one of the most 
dramatic economic crises in history, a crisis whose origins were completely exogenous to the 
country, but which initially had a strong impact on Mexico's foreign trade. Although there may be more economic turbulence to come at the international level, Mexico is now in a better position 
thanks to its sound financial and monetary position. 
3  MEXICO'S OPEN TRADE POLICY 3.1.  Ever since it joined the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1947 in 1986, 
the Mexican Government has pursued a trade policy that has enabled the export sector, together 
with the attraction of foreign direct investment, to act as key components in driving economic 
growth,
3 creating more and better jobs,4 providing access to pioneering technologies and 
                                               
2 The CRE is a decentralized SENER agency responsi ble for the transparent, impartial and efficient 
regulation of the gas, hydrocarbon refining and electr icity industries. 
3 2.2% of GDP growth in 2011 (3.9%) was due to the increase in exports. While trade represented 23% 
of GDP in 1993, its share had increased to over 60% in 2011. 
4 One out of five jobs in Mexico is related to export s, with salaries 37% higher  on average than for jobs 
in non-exporting enterprises. In some  industries where export s account for more than 50% of production, such 
as electronics, average wages have increased 149% over the past ten years. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  innovation processes, and providing a wider choice of goods and services at more competitive 
prices for consumers, and a wider range of inputs for domestic producers. 
3.2.  During the period under review, the objective of Mexico's trade policy has been to strengthen 
and revitalize its export platform to ensure greater diversification of markets and products sold 
abroad, improve the competitiveness of its production sector, and speed up its integration in global 
production chains in keeping with its commitment as a strong advocate of green global markets, as well as to provide consumers with a wider rang e of better options. To achieve this objective, 
the Government of Mexico has pursued five strategic agendas. 
3.1  Strengthening of the multilateral trading system 3.3.  Mexico is convinced of the advantages of a sound multilateral trading system. It has been 
firm in its support of open markets and its resi stance against protectionist pressures, and has 
taken concrete action in that respect. 
3.4.  Accordingly, acting to a large extent on the WTO's recommendations during its last review, 
Mexico undertook a series of reforms and actions which are described in Section 4 of this report, 
and essentially include: 
- the most ambitious unilateral tariff redu ction programme for more than 20 years; 
- the introduction of a number of trade and customs facilitation measures, including the 
streamlining of foreign trade formalities; 
- contribution to the transparency of trade and investment measures notified to the 
Trade Policy Review Body's monitoring mechanism and timely notification of subsidies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical regulations, etc.; 
- active participation in the Doha Round negotiations, taking a leading role in the efforts 
to break the current deadlock. 
3.5.  Mexico continues to participate actively in multilateral and regional trade forums in an effort 
to bring certainty to trade and foreign direct investment flows. In addition to the WTO, Mexico is 
also a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Organisation on Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Group of 20 (G20), the United Nations Conference on 
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and other forums. 
3.6.  In April 2012, the Meeting of Ministers of  Economy and Trade of the G20 took place in 
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was attended by 19 Ministers of Trade and Economy from the 
G20 countries as well as seven from guest countries.  The meeting provided an opportunity to 
seek alternative means of promoting economic gr owth and an open world economy. At the same 
time, it addressed the implications of global pr oduction chains for trade and domestic policies. 
3.2  Optimization of the existi ng network of trade agreements 
3.7.  Mexico has tried to enhance the benefits of the trade agreements it has negotiated by 
managing them and following them up, and by facilitating, developing and extending them. 
The aim is to take greater advantage of the existing network of 12 free trade agreements 
with 44 countries, nine economic complement arity agreements and 27 agreements on the 
promotion and reciprocal protection of investme nts, which together signify preferential access 
for Mexican products to more than a billion potential consumers and markets representing approximately 70% of world GDP and two thirds  of world imports.  This has involved, inter alia , 
the following actions:  
3.2.1  North American competitiveness agenda 3.8.  In December 2010, Mexico and the United States agreed on a Bilateral Action Plan 
for 21
st Century Border Management, establishing a Bilateral Executive Steering Committee to 
provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary response to current and future challenges. The Subcommittee on the Promotion of Justice and Security has taken a number of steps to WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  combat transnational criminal organizations and hence the activities perpetrated by them, 
including smuggling and the transit of prohibited goods in the two countries. 
3.9.  In September 2010, Mexico and the United States set up the High-Level Regulatory 
Cooperation Council to supervise and coordinate efforts on technical regulations and sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures to which products are subjected in international trade. 
3.10.  In July 2011, Mexico and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 
cross-border trucking as a first step towards full compliance with the North American Free Trade 
Agreement (NAFTA) and with a view to reducing transport costs in the North American region, 
taking advantage of geographical proximity. 
3.2.2  Protocol amending the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Mexico and Colombia 3.11.  In August 2011, the FTA was adjusted following Venezuela's withdrawal, and trade 
with Colombia in products originally excluded from the Treaty was further liberalized, with the 
incorporation of disciplines to facilitate trade in products of importance to the two countries, such as tractor trucks, and the negotiation of certain agricultural and industrial products that were not 
included in the tariff reduction programme. 
3.2.3  Protocol amending the Agreement between Japan and Mexico for the 
Strengthening of the Economic Partnership 
3.12.  This protocol entered into force in April 2012. It deepens the commitments to improve 
market access conditions for certain agricultural and industrial products of interest to both countries, and includes other trade facilitation disciplines, such as the Approved Exporter System. 
3.2.4  Protocol amending the FTA between Mexico and Israel 
3.13.  This protocol entered into force in Ma rch 2010, and includes: (i) the amendment of the 
transhipment provisions so that an originating good does not lose its originating status when transhipped without customs supervision through a third country with which Mexico and Israel 
have a free trade agreement; (ii) a chapter on bilateral cooperation in the field of small and 
medium enterprises (SMEs) and new technologies. 
3.3  Negotiation of new agreements 
3.14.  Responding to the current momentum in th e international economy, Mexico has sought to 
promote the negotiation of new trade and investment agreements with markets of strategic interest to it, particularly in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. 
3.3.1  Mexico-Peru Trade Integration Agreement 
3.15.  This Agreement, which entered into force in February 2012, goes beyond Economic 
Complementarity Agreement No. 8 signed in 1987 in the framework of the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA). With the help of the Agreement, it is hoped that bilateral trade with 
Peru will triple over the next five years. 
3.3.2  Inclusion of Mexico in the Tran s-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations 
3.16.  Since 8 October 2012, Mexico has formally participated in the most important and ambitious 
plurilateral negotiations at the international level in terms of products covered and disciplines 
included, and in terms of the countries taking part which, in 2011, accounted for 22% of world 
imports, 19% of world exports and 30% of world GDP.  This initiative represents a significant step 
towards the diversification of Mexico's markets for exports and for the supply of inputs, and 
considerably improves Mexico's position as an important destination for international investment. 
3.17.  The TPP is seeking to go beyond the traditio nal topic of tariff reductions on goods (featured 
in other regional agreements) to include, inter alia,  economic, financial, scientific, technological 
and cooperation issues, including new ways of pr otecting and promoting investment and digital WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  technologies; regulatory convergence; growth o pportunities for small and medium enterprises; 
competitiveness; and development and supply chains. 
3.18.  Mexico is committed to working with its TPP partners towards a high-level comprehensive 
agreement that will not only progressively libera lize trade in goods and services, but will also 
reflect the challenges facing the economy in the 21st Century - in other words, that will streamline 
supply chains, reduce the overall cost of doing business and strengthen regulatory cooperation. 
The aim is to come up with a transparent, rules-based process that provides certainty to economic 
operators and encourages long-term investments that generate exports and create more jobs. 
3.19.  The TPP will help Mexico in its efforts to diversify exports to what has been the most 
dynamic region over the past few years, Asia. Exports with Asia have increased at an average annual rate of 20.3% over the past six years, th ree times higher than the 6.5% annual average for 
total exports. It is essential that Mexico develop closer links with that region. 
3.3.3  Pacific Alliance Framework Agreement 3.20.  In June 2012, the Presidents of Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru signed the Framework 
Agreement for the Establishment of the Pacific Alliance, thereby laying the legal foundations for a 
regional integration process that will move prog ressively towards the free movement of goods, 
services, capital and persons. 
3.4  Convergence of agreements 
3.21.  Mexico has tried as far as possible to harmonize rules, facilitate trade and reduce 
transaction costs for the benefit of the productive sectors, in particular the SMEs. 
3.4.1  Mexico-Central America FTA 
3.22.  In October 2011, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua 
completed the negotiations to converge into a single instrument the three existing agreements between the parties. This should help to facilitate trade and strengthen trade 
integration in the region. Provision was made for the agreement to be phased in as each Member 
completed the required domestic legislative procedures, entering into force on 1 September 2012 between Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragu a, and on 1 January 2013 between Mexico 
and Honduras. 
3.4.2  Cumulation of origin for textiles in f a v o u r  o f  M e x i c o  i n  the framework of the 
Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States (CAFTA-DR) 
3.23.  This Agreement, initially implemented with Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and 
Nicaragua in August 2008, enables inputs from Mexico to be used in the manufacturing of articles of apparel and clothing accessories, other than knitted, in CAFTA-DR member countries. Finished 
goods are considered as originating in the region, and enjoy the preferences granted under the 
Agreement. Mexico included a similar clause in its FTAs with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in order to accord reciprocal treatment to textile materials from the 
United States. This Agreement stimulates competitiveness, production and trade in the regional 
textile sector and favours Mexican exports to Central America and the United States. 
3.5  Legal defence of Me xico's trade interests 
3.24.  During the review period, Mexico continued to defend the interests of its producers and 
exporters in the framework of the multilateral trading system and the different trade agreements it 
had concluded. 
3.25.  In the course of the period, Mexico participated in nine dispute settlement cases as 
complainant, two as respondent and 32 as a third party. This helped to ensure that its national 
productive sectors could complete on an equal footing both on the domestic market and on 
international markets. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  3.26.  As of 1 December 2012, the WTO had handled 452 disputes. Mexico ranks eighth among 
users of the system. Specifically, it ranks fifth as complainant (23 cases), seventh as respondent (14 cases) and tenth as third party (67 cases). 
3.27.  It is important to note that the rulings were in Mexico's favour in important disputes such 
as US - Tuna II and US - COOL , in which certain key provisions of the Agreement on Technical 
Barriers to Trade were clarified for the first time, and China - Raw Materials , which concerned 
export restrictions. 
4  MEXICO AND THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM 
4.1.  Mexico has been a firm advocate of main taining market openness, resisting protectionist 
pressures and moving towards a rapid and successful conclusion of the Doha Round as a key to economic recovery and a means of tackling current international economic uncertainty, focusing on 
the main purpose of the Round, which is to impr ove the trade prospects of developing countries. 
4.2.  In the Doha Round negotiations, Mexico has sought to improve its market access conditions 
in the countries with which it does not have a trade agreement, to rationalize agricultural 
subsidies, strengthen the dispute settlement sy stem and the disciplines applicable to unfair 
practices, to adopt measures aimed at eliminating or reducing current obstacles to the proper functioning of global production chains, and to deal with issues of current interest such as the 
relationship between  trade and the environment. 
4.3.  We are convinced of the benefits of a solid multilateral trading system capable of eliminating 
distortions and protectionist measures that stand in the way of a more equitable sharing of the benefits of trade. 
4.4.  Accordingly, Mexico  has been an active participant in the Doha Round negotiations and one of 
the leading sponsors of proposals to resolve the cu rrent stalemate, particularly as regards market 
access. In an effort to break the 2008 deadlock and to reach some kind of compromise, at an 
informal meeting in 2011 Mexico submitted a horizontal proposal on market access in agriculture, 
industrial products, environmental goods, and services - unfortunately, to no avail. 
4.5.  Mexico acknowledges and regrets the current state of play of the negotiations, and agrees 
that new criteria need to be applied in order to revitalize them, for example finding areas which 
could yield results immediately, such as trade facilitation and issues relating to development and special and differential treatment of the developing countries, while at the same time stepping up our efforts to find a consensus on the more controversial issues. 
4.6.  As we confront the greatest economic crisis  in almost a century and the resulting uncertainty 
regarding the future of the world economy, protectionist pressures are steadily growing. Mexico has fully lived up to the commitment it assumed in the framework of the G20 and that was 
assumed by WTO Members at the Eighth Minister ial Conference not to impose measures that 
restrict trade (or investment): not only has it continued to support the opening up of trade, but at the national level it has moved ahead on its own with an ambitious tariff reduction strategy for 
industrial products, and more recently, for certain agricultural products. Mexico is convinced that 
we will get nowhere by protecting our domestic markets: on the contrary, we need to increase our interdependence in order to make the global mark et more efficient, predictable and sustainable. 
4.1  Trade policy 
4.1.1  Tariffs 
4.7.  In 2009, as part of the ongoing process of  opening up trade as a means of boosting the 
Mexican economy's potential for growth and produc tivity and to provide Mexican enterprises with 
greater competitiveness and certainty in the wake of the international financial crisis, Mexico 
launched the most ambitious unilateral tariff reduction programme in over 20 years, covering 69% of the 12,117 items then making up the Mexican tariff. The idea was to reduce or eliminate 
most-favoured-nation (MFN) tariffs for countries with which Mexico had not yet concluded a trade 
agreement. The reduction took place in five stages between 2009 and 2013. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  4.8.  The programme covered goods classified under 70 of the 73 chapters corresponding to 
industrial products; only the chapters on fertilizers, works of art and special procedures were excluded. 
4.9.  In 2008, prior to the entry into force of this tariff reduction programme, the average tariff for 
industrial products was 10.4%. As of 1 January 2013, when the last stage of the programme was 
implemented, it was down to 4.3%. More than 60% of industrial products now have duty-free 
access, and the highest tariff for the products concerned was reduced from 50% to 20%. 
4.10.  In November 2012, there was an additional MFN tariff reduction involving 480 tariff items 
that had not been covered by the previous programme. Of these, 315 were agricultural products (including fisheries products) and 175 were chemical inputs, all classified under 37 chapters of the Mexican tariff. 
4.11.  With this additional measure, products such as poultry meat, fructose and potatoes, with 
tariffs exceeding 200%, will see their tariffs progressively reduced to 75% in 2017. As regards chemical products, a large number of which are currently subject to MFN tariffs of between 15% 
and 10%, the rates will be reduced to between 7% and 5% by 2017. Thus, the average MFN tariff 
will be reduced from 6.4% in 2012 to 5.1% in 2017. 
4.12.  It should be noted that both these pr ogrammes were implemented in an international 
context of strong protectionist pressures. 
4.1.2  Trade facilitation 4.13.  Since its last review, Mexico has implemented a variety of trade and customs facilitation 
measures aimed at making companies more compet itive and facilitating their participation in 
international markets. The bulk of the changes began in 2008 with the Decree Granting 
Administrative Facilities for Customs and Foreign Trade Purposes. The main objectives of this Decree were to abolish various import requirements, streamline the procedures for obtaining 
certificates of origin, and computerize customs and foreign trade procedures, creating a single 
foreign trade window. It also includes a number of  administrative simplifi cation measures that 
have facilitated and speeded up customs clearance of goods. 
4.1.2.1  Single window 
4.14.  The Decree Establishing the Mexico's Digital Window for Foreign Trade
5 was published 
on 14 January 2011. On 1 June 2012, the use of the single window became mandatory for government agencies, exporters, import ers, carriers and customs auxiliaries. 
At least 40 documents, 165 formalities and 200 different data items were simplified. 
4.15.  Thanks to the Single Window it is possible, among other things, to meet all foreign trade 
requirements (permits, licences, authorizations, notices and certificates) by submitting the 
necessary information electronically, once only, through a single entity. This contributes to the 
paperless customs system and ensures the applicat ion of quality standards and best practices in 
the field. Users go through the process using an advanced electronic signature (AES), which 
replaces the written signature and enhances the security of the transactions. 
4.16.  As regards non-tariff regulations and restrictions, import and export requirements and 
regulations can now be consulted online, and there are plans for government-to-government and system-to-system electronic interchange of sanitary and phytosanitary certificates and other 
documents in order to speed up trade and ensure compliance with the different regulations. 
4.1.2.2  New certified enterprise scheme 4.17.  Since 2002, Mexico has had a "certified enterprises" programme under which authorized 
exporters or importers are given certain administrative facilities for the customs clearance of 
their goods. 
                                               
5 https://www.ventan illaunica.gob.mx . WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  4.18.  December 2011 saw the launching of the New Certified Enterprises Scheme (NEEC), a 
programme which aims to enhance the security of the foreign trade logistics chain by implementing internationally recognized minimum security standards in cooperation with the private sector, and granting benefits to participating enterprises that comply with certain tax, 
customs and security obligations. These benefits help to further facilitate and streamline the goods 
exchange process, providing shipment with greate r protection, and to speed up export and import 
formalities, thereby contributing to the competitiveness of enterprises. 
4.19.  Mexico adopted the World Customs Organization's SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure 
and Facilitate Global Trade on which this scheme is based. 
4.1.2.3  Main projects to control and combat smuggling 4.1.2.3.1  Equipment and use of technology 
4.20.  In order to strengthen the control and dete ction of goods that have not been declared or 
whose access to the national territory is prohibited, Mexico continued to upgrade the equipment used by its customs authorities and to step up the training of customs officials in the conduct of 
rapid and efficient non-intrusive inspections usin g, for example, gamma ray, x-ray and radiation 
detection equipment. 
4.21.  Greater resources were earmarked for comb atting crime through investment in technology 
and infrastructure for the intelligent use of information. Priority was given to improving risk 
analysis through segmentation of users based on ri sk and the type of goods, and strengthening all 
of the different regimes and their operational ph ases, using feedback from all of the customs 
analysis units. 
4.1.2.3.2  Infrastructure projects and the modernization of customs services 
4.22.  As part of its 2007-2012 Customs Modernization Plan, Mexico launched a number of major 
projects to restructure various customs offices, en large the inspection areas in some of the bigger 
offices, and expand the existing customs infrastr ucture by building new installations. In 2011 
and 2012, five new mutual administrative assistance agreements - with Italy, Chile, the Philippines, China and India - were added to those already concluded by the General Customs 
Administration (AGA). This has helped the custom s authorities to strengthen security and make 
optimum use of information exchange arrangements, and to cooperate more closely with the customs authorities of other countries to promote safe foreign trade, combat customs fraud and improve the security of the foreign trade logistics chain. 
4.1.2.4  Elimination of the country of orig in certificate for non-preferential imports 
4.23.  Until the first quarter of 2008, the import declaration had to be accompanied by a country 
of origin certificate for the importation of goods subject to payment of a compensatory 
duty ( cuota compensatoria ). This requirement was eliminated in April 2008 with the publication of 
the Decree Granting Administrative Facilities for Customs and Foreign Trade Purposes. 
4.1.3  Investment 
4.24.  Mexico considers the promotion and protection of foreign investment to be an important 
catalyst for development in that it has the potential to generate employment, increase savings and bring in foreign exchange as well as to stimulate competition, encourage the transfer of new technologies and promote exports. All of these el ements have a positive impact on the country's 
productive and competitive environment. 
4.25.  Foreign investment is governed by the Foreign Investment Law and its Regulations which, 
within the limits imposed by the Constitution (A rticles 27 and 73), also establishes requirements 
for foreigners with respect to ownership of land , water and other immoveable property and to the 
performance of certain economic activities in Mexico. At the bilateral level, foreign investment is also governed by the Reciprocal Investment Pr omotion and Protection Agreements (APPRIs) and 
by the chapters on investment negotiated in the framework of the FTAs concluded by Mexico. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  4.26.  During the review period, four new APPRIs entered into force - with India (2008), 
Slovokia (2009), China (2009), and Singapore (2011)  - bringing the total number of APPRIs in 
force to 28. With the exception of Israel, all of the FTAs have a chapter or provision on investment, as do the FTA with Central America (2012) and th e Trade Integration Agreement with Peru (2012). 
4.27.  Mexico has concluded 53 double taxation and tax evasion agreements, chiefly with a view to 
eliminating double taxation, which represents an excessive tax burden for residents of Mexico and 
residents of other countries that conduct business or financial transactions with each other. These 
excessive tax burdens are an obstacle to investment flows, and eliminating them brings legal 
certainty to the tax system applied to investments. 
4.1.4  Services 4.28.  The services sector is extremely important to the Mexican economy. It accounts for 
about 70% of GDP and employs approximately 60% of the labour force. Furthermore, over the 
past few years it has grown faster than the economy as a whole. The most dynamic sectors have been transport, tourism, telecommunications, and financial services. 
4.29.  As part of its policy aimed at improvin g the competitiveness of the Mexican economy, 
achieving sustained economic growth and speedi ng up job creation, Mexico has introduced a 
number of regulatory changes with a view to libera lizing the provision of services, protecting the 
consumer and establishing fair conditions of competition. The main sectors concerned by these 
regulatory changes were financial services, telecommunications and transport. 
4.1.4.1  Financial services 4.30.  A series of reforms were introduced to streng then the role of the financial sector as a trigger 
for the country's economic growth and developm ent. These include amendments to the Law on 
Credit Unions, which regulates the organization and operation of credit unions as well as the operations they can perform. 
4.31.  There was also a reallocation of responsib ilities between the National Banking and Securities 
Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit; a more flexible approach was taken to the operations that can be performed by banks; a single procedure was introduced for imposing 
penalties; and measures were taken to ensure the imposition of judicial sanctions on persons that 
illegally obtained credit ca rd data or committed fraud. 
4.32.  In 2009, the National Commission for the Protection and Defence of Financial Services 
Users (CONDUSEF) was given new responsibilities for transparency, handling complaints, and joint 
supervision, with the Federal Competition Commission, of the level of competition. Limits were 
also set on the operations that credit institutions were allowed to carry out through third parties, with the exception of third-party State entities. 
4.33.  As regards pension funds, the specialized  pension fund investment companies (SIEFOREs) 
may invest in the following assets: instruments, foreign securities, variable income components, neutral investments, structures linked to underlying assets, goods and operations with derivatives, 
repos, and securities lending. In the case of good s, this may be done directly, through investment 
vehicles, or where appropriate, derivatives. In the case of foreign exchange, the investment may be direct or through derivatives. There has b een gradual movement towards expanding the range 
of asset categories in which pension fund resource s can be invested. Efforts have also been made 
to intensify financial penetration by bringing in new kinds of financial sector participants. It was in 
this context that niche banking and correspondent banking were introduced in 2008. 
4.1.4.1.1  Banks 
4.34.  During the review period, a number of reforms were introduced to improve banking sector 
practices and promote competition. The Bank of Mexico introduced changes and reductions in the commissions paid by account holders for various transactions, which constitute one of the main 
sources of income for the Mexican banks. The Central Bank was also authorized to establish the 
formula, components and methodology for calculating the Total Annual Gain, to make it easy for WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  those interested in placing an investment or savings to compare the returns on the various options 
available and thus choose the option that best suited their interest. 
4.1.4.2  Telecommunications 4.35.  The communications and transport sector, and especially telecommunications, has been 
very dynamic over the last decade in Mexico. Growth has stemmed primarily from the introduction 
of new technologies and services, as well as other factors such as lower prices for most of these services. In order to expand access to telecommunications services for an ever-larger number of 
Mexicans, reforms were carried out to boost competition among concession holders and thus 
increase service coverage in the country and bring down prices, modernize the regulatory framework and expand the technological infrastructure. 
4.36.  Private investment in telecommunications services totalled 24,739 million dollars over the 
period 2007-2012. In real terms, investment increased sharply as from 2010, after remaining 
stable for eight years. The upturn in investment over the period 2009-2010 was linked with the capital investment involved in network development for mobile operators to make use of the 
spectrum they acquired in the 20 and 21 Tenders.
6 
4.37.  The volume and value of output of the telecommunications sector as a whole have grown 
steadily, while over the period 2006-2011 employ ment in the sector rose at an average annual 
rate of 4.7%. 
4.38.  Over the period 2007-2011, incomes in te lecommunication services grew at an average 
annual rate of 6.8%, comparing favourably with the average annual inflation rate of 4.4%. Mobile telephony grew faster than the other teleco mmunications services, and over this period 
contributed 53.4% of total income in this sector. 
4.1.4.2.1  Technological convergence and modernization 4.39.  Convergence is a technological process enabling the provision of voice, data and video 
services through multiple technological platforms. This enhances efficiency in network use and also 
generates direct benefits for consumers by allowing  a better supply of services at more affordable 
prices. 
4.40.  Promoting technological convergence means simplifying and reorganizing the various wired 
and non-wired networks. This was done over the period 2007-2012 through administrative simplification and the elaboration of various criteria in line with the current state of technology. Thus, the Federal Telecommunications Commi ssion (COFETEL) prepared a study for the 
comprehensive planning of the spectrum for the next five years, with particular emphasis on third 
and fourth generation mobile services. 
4.41.  On the basis of these principles, COFETEL drew up a proposal relating to the official 
approval of the various existing concession titles, to ensure that the various telecommunication 
service providers delivering the same service have the same obligations, so that it will be possible to monitor compliance more efficiently. To th is end, on 10 October 2011 COFETEL submitted a 
proposal to the Ministry of Communications and Transport for a model concession title for the 
installation, operation and exploitation of a public communications network. 
4.42.  A mutual recognition agreement between the Government of Mexico and the Government of 
the United States on conformity assessment of telecommunications equipment was published 
on 28 July 2011. Its main objective is to simpli fy conformity assessment for a wide range of 
telecommunications and related equipment and thus  facilitate trade between the two countries. 
4.1.4.2.2  Broadband services 
4.43.  The document "Actions to strengthen broadband and information and communication 
technologies" was published in early 2012, and pub lication of a National Broadband Plan that will 
                                               
6 Tender 20 included the frequencies 1850-1910/1930-1990 Mhz and Tender 21 included 
frequencies 1710-1755/2110-2155 Mhz. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  identify infrastructures and modalities for tenders and concessions to ensure national coverage 
under conditions of healthy competition and improved quality and prices is pending. 
4.44.  Broadband service has grown rapidly: in 2006 there were about 3 million subscribers for the 
fixed broadband service and 3,000 subscribers fo r the mobile broadband service, as opposed 
to 13.1 and 9.7 million subscribers for the resp ective services in June 2012, representing 
a 7.6-fold increase in the total number. 
4.1.4.2.3  Telephony 
4.45.  In 2007 COFETEL issued 11 rulings establishing the conditions for interconnection where 
these were not mutually agreed between public telecommunications network concession holders. In the case of mobile networks COFETEL ordered a gradual reduction in interconnection rates until 2010. In the case of fixed networks, COFETEL decided that there should be a reduction of 
about 18% in interconnection rates for terminating local calls in the fixed network of Teléfonos de 
México S.A.B. de C.V. (Telmex), as well as a redu ction in local traffic rates charged by Telmex to 
other concession holders of about 40%. These rates had remained unchanged since 2002, as the 
concession holders had not complained about them to COFETEL. 
4.46.  In 2008 COFETEL for the first time established the requirement of network hierarchy 
interconnection, whereby Telmex should provide calls in local service areas where it is the only 
service provider. Interconnection charges of US$0.80 and US$1.05 were set, representing a 
reduction of about 85%. 
4.47.  In 2009, COFETEL issued ten rulings on interconnection conditions not agreed among public 
telecommunications networks concession holders. It pursued the gradual reduction in 
interconnection rates for terminating calls for mo bile network applicable until 2010 under both the 
local and the national "caller pays" modalities. 
4.48.  In 2010 COFETEL issued eight rulings establishing interconnection conditions not agreed 
among concessionaires, pursuing the rate-cutting for interconnection at the various hierarchical 
levels of the Telmex public telecommunications networks and thus allowing a price reduction of about 85%. 
4.49.  In 2011 there was the biggest reduction in mobile, fixed and resale interconnection 
charges since 2006. The interconnection rate was set at Mex$0.03951 pesos for mobile networks and Mex$0.03951 pesos for fixed networks, with interconnection charges on a hierarchical basis: for level 1 interconnection, Mex$0.03951 pesos, for level 2, Mex$0.04530 
pesos, and for level 1 transit, Mex$0.01904 pesos. 
4.50.  In the first half of 2012 COFETEL issued five rulings on interconnection conditions not 
agreed among public telecommunications network concessionaires. It is envisaged that once the 
COFETEL Plenary approves the cost models that have been drawn up in accordance with the cost 
model guidelines and submitted to public consultation, it will establish the rates for 2012 in its rulings concerning interconnection disputes. 
4.51.  In the second quarter of 2012 the COFE TEL Plenary established specific obligations 
concerning rates, service quality and information for public telecommunications network concession holders possessing substantial market power in the wholesale markets for leased dedicated local links, leased dedicated national long-distance links, leased international 
long-distance dedicated links and leased dedicated interconnection links. 
4.52.  On 14 March 2012 the COFETEL Plenary issued a ruling identifying the mobile local service 
concession holders possessing substantial power in the mobile terminal 
market (case RA-029-2011). 
4.53.  COFETEL recently completed a draft ruling for the imposition of specific obligations for 
operators having substantial power in the mobile services retail market. This project could shortly 
lead to the establishment of asymmetric regulation for dominant telecommunications firms in the 
provision of retail services (end-user services) for mobile telephony, message services and data services. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  4.54.  It is estimated that from December 2006 to end 2012 the fibre optic cabling will have 
increased by 102.1 thousand kilometres , an average annual growth of 8.9%. 
4.1.4.2.4  Free-to-air television 4.55.  The Federal Telecommunications Commission announced that it had adopted the 
Programme for the granting of concessions of broadcasting frequencies for television services, 
under which the first public tender for free-to-air television broadcasting in the history of Mexico will be held. The programme includes the necessary frequencies for two 6MHz broadcasting 
channels to operate by means of digital terrestrial television, with a potential coverage 
reaching 93% of the population. The aim is to promote competition and encourage content 
diversity. 
4.56.  In May 2012 the policy for the adoption of  digital terrestrial television was officially 
modified. Among other things, a new timetable was established for the phasing out of analogue 
broadcasting, running from 16 April 2013 to 26 November 2015; this is conditional upon a penetration of at least 90% of households whos e service depends on free-to-air television by 
digital terrestrial television. 
4.57.  Also as part of this switch-over strategy a timetable was established for turning off analogue 
broadcasting, staggered city by city, beginning with Tijuana, Baja California, on 16 April 2013. 
In addition, on 26 November 2012, COFETEL awarde d a private company a contract to carry out a 
comprehensive programme of visits to all households in Tijuana to determine which 
users will receive a 100%-free decoder antenna. This programme of visits to the approximately 430 thousand Tijuana households began on 11 December 2012. 
4.1.4.2.5  Subscription Television (Pay TV) 
4.58.  The total number of subscribers increased at an annual average rate of 12.3% over the 
period 2007-2012. In terms of services, cable television grew by 6.3% annually, satellite television 
by 29.3% annually and microwave multipoint dist ribution (MMDS) fell by 26.1% annually. The 
decline in the microwave TV service stemmed from  price and content promotional offers by the 
other Pay TV services. 
4.1.4.2.6  Value-added services 
4.59.  Estimated preliminary figures indicate that over the period 2007-2012 Internet access 
subscriptions grew at an average annual rate of 32.1%, representing a rise of 20.7 million in the 
number of subscriptions. 
4.60.  The Ministry of Communications and Tran sport (SCT) and the Federal Telecommunications 
commission (COFETEL) recently endorsed the establis hment of an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in 
Mexico, as a commitment included in the Decalogue and document "Actions to strengthen 
broadband and information and communication technologies". At the end of November 2012, 
the SCT, together with COFETEL an d CFE, witnessed the constitution of the Civil Association that 
will be responsible for the first IXP on Mexican territory, and signed with it a cooperation 
agreement to support its activities. 
4.61.  Following the amendment of the Federal Telecommunications Law in 2006, permits are no 
longer required for the installation and provision of special telecommunications services, such as value-added services, nor are there any nationality restrictions. The sole requirement is 
registration with the Ministry of Communications and Transport. 
4.1.4.2.7  Number portability 4.62.  A major step forward in telecommunications was number portability, officially established 
in July 2008, which allows users to change their fi xed or mobile telephony operator without losing 
their telephone number. On 30 September 2012 over  6.6 million numbers had been carried over, 
of which 80.2% concerned prepaid mobile telephony, 2.6% postpaid mobile telephony 
and 17.2% fixed telephony. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  4.1.4.3  Air transport 
4.63.  Following the liberalization of the Mexican domestic air market, which included some 
privatizations, competition increased considerably in this sector. Aeroméxico and Mexicana de Aviación, grouped in the corporate structure Grupo Cintra, accounted for 77% of the 
Mexican passenger transport market in 2000. After Mexicana de Aviación suspended its activities, 
in 2012 market shares were as follows: Aeroméxico held 43.7%, followed by the low-cost airlines Interjet (21.1%) and Volaris (20.6%). Three other companies shared the remaining 15%. 
4.2  Intellectual property 
4.64.  Mexico has a solid legal and institutional system in the field of intellectual property. During 
the period under review significant progress continued to be made with regard to the protection of intellectual property rights through amendments to the Federal Criminal Code, the Industrial 
Property Law and the Federal Copyright Law, in or der to bring domestic legislation into line with 
international rules; these were notified to the WTO, as was the conclusion of various international undertakings. 
4.65.  On 15 December 2011, the Senate ratified the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on 
Biological Diversity, which is aimed at fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, and in particular appropriate access to such resources and 
appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over such resources 
and technologies. This will contribute, given appropriate financing, to the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components. 
4.66.  In September 2012 the Mexican Industrial Pr operty Institute (IMPI) implemented a system 
for registering marks online, which offers a modern, convenient and sure means for users to fill in, 
pay for and submit applications for trademarks, collective marks, trade names and slogans from any location without having to go to their bank or to the Institute. 
4.67.  The purpose of this measure is to reduce by as much as 90% the mistakes users make in 
filling in an application for a mark, collective mark, trade name or slogan; streamline the procedures relating to formal corrections or amendments, reducing the cost to users arising from 
dealing with such formalities; and ensuring that applications are not submitted in incomplete form, 
for lack of documentation, proper payment or other defects. 
4.68.  In October 2011 the Federal Tribunal of Fiscal and Administrative Justice created an 
intellectual property chamber based in the Federal District, with specific jurisdiction over disputes 
throughout the national territory. Previously, any chamber of the tribunal could hear intellectual 
property disputes. The judges of this new chamber now deal exclusively with cases relating to intellectual property and plant varieties. 
4.69.  At the international level, Mexico signed ad referendum  the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade 
Agreement (ACTA) in July 2012 for the purpose of fighting more efficiently the problem of fraud 
and piracy relating to trademarks, inventions and intellectual and artistic works. This international 
instrument needs to be approved by the Senate. 
4.70.  Mexico also acceded to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of 
Marks (Madrid System), which offers mark holder s an affordable, simplified and user-friendly 
mechanism for the protection and management of their portfolio of marks at the international 
level. The instrument of accession was deposited with the World Intellectual Property 
Organization (WIPO) on 19 November 2012. 
4.71.  Since 2008, coordinated efforts by the federal authorities and the private sector in the 
framework of the National Anti-Piracy Decision ha ve given an unprecedented boost to the war on 
piracy in the Mexican customs. Over 117 million articles have been seized since that date. 
4.72.  This led the World Customs Organization to  present Mexico with the 2010 "Yolanda Benítez" 
award for results obtained during 2009 in this field. Mexico also had eight of its customs officials 
accredited as intellectual property rights experts, whose expertise and skills help to detect shipments that are presumed to infringe intellectual property rights. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  4.73.  During the period 2008 to 2012, with the suppo rt of national and international authorities, 
international organizations, chambers, associations and trademark holders and proxy representatives, 2912 customs officials have been trained with a view to capacity building for rapid and reliable detection of counterfeit goods. Co ordination with trademark holders and proxy 
representatives has also furnished customs personne l with resources, such as magnifying glasses, 
hologram readers, ultraviolet light, and computer programs, for the identification of original products of specific trademarks. 
4.74.  In January 2012 the Tax Administration Service (SAT), through the General Customs 
Administration (AGA), launched the trademark database with the aim of detecting possible intellectual property irregularities in the country's customs. Aimed at the protection of intellectual property rights at the entry points into the country , this resource for the identification of products 
and trademarks is flexible, simple, cost-free, vo luntary and user-friendly. The database contained 
3,621 marks and 4,337 registrations in October 2012. 
4.3  Competition policy 
4.75.  Economic competition, monopolies and free competition are governed by Article 28 of the 
Political Constitution and the Federal Law on Economic Competition (LFCE) and its Regulations. This legal framework is supplemented by the relevant provisions of most FTAs signed by Mexico 
and other international agreements. 
4.76.  During the review period, the LFCE was amended three times. The most important 
amendment took place in April 2011, with the aim of bringing it into line with international best 
practice. These amendments may be grouped under three headings: 
- Strengthening of competition policy, by means of stiffer monetary and criminal penalties. 
The CFC is also empowered to impose precautionary measures on enterprises where irreversible harm to free competition might occur. 
- Simplification of implementation of the LFCE. New features included oral hearings, 
non-litigious resolutions and the publication of technical criteria by the CFE with regard to the relevant market, and other measures as necessary for implementation of the 
LFCE. 
- Strengthening of the operation of the CFC. The role of the CFC as a collegiate body was 
strengthened, by boosting the independence of the executive secretariat and establishing a clear separation of functions between it and the Plenary. 
4.77.  Since the previous review, the CFC has si gned three bilateral cooperation agreements for 
technical assistance with Russia (2011), Ecuador (2011) and Nicaragua (2011), bringing the total number of such agreements to 11. 
5  CONCLUSIONS 
5.1.  Our country has been one of the most active participants in the Doha Round negotiations and 
one of the main promoters of solutions to break the current deadlock. Mexico considers that 
bringing the Round to a successful conclusion will help reduce barriers to trade, expand 
opportunities for developing countries and strengthen the multilateral trading system. Accordingly, besides contributing to the negotiations through concrete proposals and activities, Mexico has fostered its objectives through an ambitious agenda of unilateral reforms applied on a 
most-favoured-nation basis. 
5.2.  The period covered by this review was marked by a sharp slow-down in global demand and 
hence in world exports of goods and services. Mexico was not spared the effects of the worst 
economic crisis of recent decades. However, its sound economic fundamentals and appropriate 
implementation of financial, monetary and counter cyclical policies enabled its economy to perform 
more favourably. Nevertheless, there are still latent risks of a fresh global economic crisis and 
therefore a need to continue strengthening economic and trade instruments to minimize its 
impact. WT/TPR/G/279/Rev.1 • Mexico 
 
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  5.3.  Mexico has succeeded in enhancing the competitiveness of its export sector and gaining a 
better insertion in world production chains. This would not have been possible without the reduction achieved in the price of inputs, by significantly eliminating or reducing tariffs and other import and export restrictions on goods and services, including by means of significant 
improvements in sanitary and phytosanitary regulations and restrictions, as well as by introducing 
various internal measures to facilitate trade and doing business in the country. 
5.4.  At a time when transparency and accountability are a fundamental issue for public policy and 
there is also a worldwide concern to ensure that global economic activities are compatible with 
environmental policies, Mexico has established a wide  range of robust and clear public policies and 
reforms. These have sought to link foreign trade activities with international instruments for the protection of the environment, management and conservation of natural resources, and 
forecasting of human health impacts, while at the same time promoting the competitiveness on 
green markets of the various operators involved in global trade. 
__________