The Mexican federal government has launched a comprehensive strategy to combat piracy, smuggling, and illicit trade, with a zero-tolerance approach. Led by the Secretariat of Economy, the initiative aims to protect national industry and bolster the formal economy. The announcement came during a forum co-organized with the Council of the Americas.
The federal government has ramped up its campaign against piracy, smuggling, and illegal trade through a cross-cutting strategy led by the Secretariat of Economy. The policy stresses coordination among federal agencies, state governments, and the private sector to shield national industry, consumers, and value chains. The goal is to foster a formal economy that curbs informality, stabilizes markets, and enhances tax collection.
Key measures include support for vulnerable sectors such as textiles, footwear, steel, and sugar. Additional efforts involve seizures of illegal goods, establishment of inter-agency tables to handle unforeseen policy impacts, and creation of an observatory integrating private sector data to better identify illicit practices.
These priorities were addressed at the Forum on Combating Illicit Trade, a dialogue platform for federal authorities and business representatives. Co-organized by the Secretariat of Economy and the Council of the Americas, the event gathered participants from affected industries including tobacco, alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and manufacturing, along with academic experts. Attendees agreed on the need for stronger traceability systems, enhanced customs controls, stricter law enforcement, and greater authority-private sector collaboration.
The forum was chaired by Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce Vidal Llerenas Morales, with officials from the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit, the National Customs Agency of Mexico, the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, and the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris). This involvement underscores the government's comprehensive approach.
