The Mexican federal government, through IMPI and ANAM, signed an agreement to promote the protection of intellectual property rights in foreign trade operations.
In 2025, Mexico’s total foreign trade in goods amounted to $1.328903 trillion, according to data from INEGI.
Of that total, $664.837 billion corresponded to exports, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.6 percent. Imports accounted for the remaining $664.066 billion, an increase of 4.4 percent.
IMPI and ANAM
ANAM Director Rafael Fernando Marín Mollinedo and IMPI Director Santiago Nieto Castillo signed the agreement. Furthermore, coordination and collaboration between the two agencies include joint prevention and detection efforts. These efforts also include combating illicit activities.
This agreement aligns with the objectives of the 2025–2030 National Development Plan by strengthening surveillance at strategic points across the country and contributing to a safer, more reliable, and more competitive environment for investment and economic development.
Both institutions will establish information-sharing mechanisms to carry out their duties. Additionally, they will implement coordination schemes to identify goods that infringe on intellectual property rights.
The IMPI and ANAM will implement specialized training programs for customs personnel. These programs will be delivered by technical staff from the IMPI. The aim is to strengthen detection and analysis capabilities in this area.
As part of this effort, a Working Group will be established to monitor joint actions. This will help standardize operational criteria and contribute to the design of strategies to prevent and combat potential violations.
Special 301 Report
Nieto Castillo noted that this agreement takes on special relevance in the context of the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), as well as in light of the upcoming release of the Special 301 Report, prepared by the USTR.
Regarding geographical indications (GIs), in the most recent Special 301 Report, the United States urges Mexico to ensure transparency and due process in the protection of GIs. Additionally, it calls for ensuring that the granting of GI protection does not deprive stakeholders of the ability to use common names. This is particularly important with respect to protection granted under trade agreements.
In 2024, the Mexican Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Mexico’s USMCA implementing legislation related to copyright. Specifically, it upheld the provisions regarding criminal penalties for circumventing technological protection measures (TPMs) and notice-and-takedown procedures.
However, according to the USTR, there is no indication that Mexican authorities are enforcing the provisions criminalizing the circumvention of TPMs. Furthermore, they are not enforcing the rules establishing a rights-holder-driven notice-and-takedown process (i.e., one not initiated by the IMPI).
Pirated Goods
Furthermore, the requirements for criminal prosecution, including the demonstration of a “direct economic benefit” and the presentation of a legitimate physical copy of the pirated content, remain significant barriers to law enforcement.
Regarding law enforcement, IMPI coordinated efforts with federal and local police to seize illegal goods and combat piracy in several Mexican states, in a strategy called Operation Cleanup.
Mexican authorities focused on counterfeit products originating primarily in China. However, despite these efforts, the presence of pirated and counterfeit products in Mexican markets remains a cause for concern.