Mexico Textile and Apparel Imports Approved for the Electronic Certification System (eCERT)

On September 30, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection published in the Federal Register (86 FR 54225) Mexico Textile and Apparel Imports Approved for the Electronic Certification System (eCERT).

This document announces that the certification requirement for certain imports of textile and apparel goods from the United Mexican States (Mexico) that are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under a tariff preference level (TPL) will be accomplished through the Electronic Certification System (eCERT). Specified quantities of certain textile and apparel imports from Mexico that are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under a TPL must have a valid certificate of eligibility with a corresponding eCERT transmission in order for an importer to claim the preferential duty rate. As the Agreement Between the United States of America, the United Mexican States and Canada (USMCA) requires the use of an electronic system for the transmission of a certificate of eligibility and other documentation related to TPLs for goods imported into the United States, Mexico has coordinated with the United States Government (USG) to implement the eCERT process. Mexico is now ready to participate in this process and transition from the way the USG currently receives certificates of eligibility from Mexico to eCERT. This transition will not change the TPL filing process or requirements applicable to importers of record, who will continue to provide the certificate numbers from Mexico in the same manner as when currently filing entry summaries with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The format of the certificate of eligibility numbers will remain the same for the corresponding eCERT transmissions.