Last updated: October 9, 2026
Textiles, apparel and footwear are among the most regulated sectors at Mexican customs: high duties for non-FTA countries, a sector registry, prior notices, reference prices and mandatory labeling. This guide summarizes what a brand, distributor or retail chain should check before buying.
2026 duties
On January 1, 2026 Mexico raised import duties on goods from countries without a free trade agreement (such as China or India). Under the published decree, apparel and footwear pay up to 35% and textiles up to 25%. Goods originating in an FTA partner (USMCA, European Union, CPTPP and others) keep their preference if they meet the rule of origin and carry the right certification. The exact rate depends on the tariff classification.
Requirements before you ship
- Importer registry and sector registry. Besides the general importer registry, you need the sector-specific registry: the footwear sector and the textile and apparel sector. Without it the pedimento cannot be validated.
- Automatic import notice. For many textile, apparel and footwear tariff lines, the Ministry of Economy requires a prior notice filed before clearance.
- Reference prices. If the declared value is below the published reference price for the tariff line, the difference in duties and taxes must be secured with a customs guarantee account.
- Authorized customs offices. Some tariff lines in these sectors can only clear at specific customs offices. This is confirmed before choosing the route.
- Antidumping duties. Certain products of Asian origin may be subject to antidumping duties. This is checked by tariff line and country of origin.
Labeling: NOM standards
Textiles and garments must comply with NOM-004-SE-2021 (fiber content, size, care instructions, country of origin and importer details). Footwear must comply with NOM-020-SCFI-1997 (upper, lining and sole materials, country of origin and importer). Compliance is shown at clearance or through the alternatives the regulation allows. See the guide to NOM standards for imports.
IMMEX and finished apparel
Since December 2024, finished apparel and other made-up textile articles can no longer be imported temporarily under the IMMEX program. Companies that used that scheme for e-commerce or distribution must import definitively, with all the requirements above. Inputs for manufacturing are treated differently. See IMMEX vs PROSEC.
Exporting textiles and footwear to the United States
To enter the United States with USMCA preference, textiles and apparel must meet strict rules of origin (generally yarn-forward) and carry a certification of origin. The entry also requires fiber-content and country-of-origin labeling, and an active customs bond.
- Origin. The USMCA certification of origin has no fixed form: it can go on the invoice or on a separate document, with the minimum data the agreement requires. The importer keeps it for five years.
- Labels. Each garment shows fiber content, country of origin and the identity of the manufacturer or importer (or its RN number). Apparel also carries care instructions.
- A detailed invoice. Composition by weight, knit or woven, intended use and manufacturer. That is what classification and the CBP entry are built on.
- Product safety. Clothing fabrics must meet U.S. flammability standards, which are stricter for children’s sleepwear and children’s products.
- Cotton traceability. CBP can detain cotton goods and ask for documents that show where the fiber came from through the whole supply chain. Have them ready before you ship.
Fabric, yarn and textile supplies between Mexico and the United States
Many brands move goods both ways: U.S. fabric, yarn and trims into Mexico, and finished garments back. What to check:
- Fabric and yarn that originate in the United States enter Mexico with USMCA preference when they carry a certification of origin.
- The automatic import notice, the sector registry and reference prices are checked by tariff line, for supplies too.
- A company with an IMMEX program can import supplies temporarily for manufacturing; some textile tariff lines carry extra requirements. See the guide for manufacturing and IMMEX.
- Using yarn and fabric from the region helps the finished garment meet the rule of origin on its way back to the United States.
- One team clears both directions through Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, with a Laredo warehouse to receive and consolidate.
Your first shipment: what we need to know
- The product, its fiber composition and whether it is knit or woven.
- Where the yarn, the fabric and the sewing were done.
- The supplier’s invoice or quote, with value and quantities.
- Who will be the importer on each side of the border. In Mexico it must be in the importer registry.
- Origin, final destination and the date you need the goods.
How Eilan helps
- Tariff classification and a review of duties, antidumping and origin before you buy.
- Review of the sector registry, notices and reference prices by tariff line.
- Mexican and U.S. clearance on the same shipment, through Nuevo Laredo, Manzanillo or by air.
- A Laredo warehouse to receive, inspect, label and consolidate goods before crossing.
- For chains and brands with volume: the Corporate Program.
Related guides: e-commerce and retail, importing from China, import tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What duty does apparel from China pay entering Mexico in 2026?
Under the decree in force since January 1, 2026, apparel and footwear from non-FTA countries pay up to 35% and textiles up to 25%. The exact rate is confirmed by tariff classification.
Can finished apparel be imported into Mexico under IMMEX?
No. Since December 2024 garments and other made-up textile articles can no longer enter temporarily under IMMEX; they are imported definitively.
What does a garment made in Mexico need to enter the United States with USMCA preference?
It must meet the rule of origin, which generally requires the yarn, the fabric and the sewing to be from the region, and carry a certification of origin. It also needs the labels the United States requires.
Do I need the sector registry to import fabric into Mexico?
It depends on the tariff classification. Textiles and apparel are a sector in the sector-specific importer registry; we check your classification before you ship.
Request a quote
Send us your shipment details: product, composition, country of origin and volume. Request a quote or call +1 (956) 717-4150, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Central.
General information as of October 2026. Rates and requirements change; they are confirmed by tariff line before each operation.