Enhancing Public Availability of Customs Information
In the Islamic Countries
50
binding upon entry into force. This decision means that the Mexican government was satisfied
that it was already in substantial compliance with the terms of the TFA. In a reflection of this
fact, Mexico’s page on the WTO’s TFA database includes information on inquiry points, as well
as links to relevant laws and procedures, as well as the country’s Single Window.
Information Availability: General State of Play
Figure 28 shows Mexico’s TFI scores, with Singapore as a best practice reference point. In terms
of involvement of the trade community and advance rulings, Mexico’s score is relatively close to
Singapore’s, although it is not yet at the best practice frontier. The gap is larger for appeal
procedures and information availability.
Figure 28: Mexico's TFI scores with Singapore for reference, 2017.
Source: OECD TFIs.
Further information is available in Annex 5, which shows answers to individual questions within
the TFIs. Responses show that Mexico is typically a strong performer, with many instances of
full implementation of the measures in question, and many others of partial implementation.
The major weak point is in relation to appeal procedures, where details are scant, and, based on
OECD’s assessment, there are concerns about judicial independence. The overall picture,
however is of strong performance in most areas.
In terms of the scope of public information availability, Table 2 shows that there is a national
customs website available in Spanish; not responding as at January 25th,
2019) that takes user feedback, duty rates are published, and enquiry points have been
established. Similarly, information on trade procedures is available online. In particular, duty
rates (tariffs as well as fees and charges) are published online, and import and export
procedures are fully explained online with documentation downloadable, In other words, the
extent of information publication covers all major areas of trade procedures. Publication is both
by traditional hard copy, and also online. The tool used for publication is a website. ICTs
contribute to information dissemination through use of a website, as well as online submission
of documents and forms.
0,000
0,500
1,000
1,500
2,000
Information
Availability
Involvement of the
Trade Community
Advance Rulings
Appeal Procedures
Mexico
Singapore