Short answerTo import goods from Mexico to the USA you need a commercial invoice from the Mexican exporter, an importer registered with CBP and a customs bond, a bill of lading and packing list, and a USMCA certification of origin when the goods qualify. Customs clearance happens on both sides of the border.
For any company, reliable suppliers are key. For decades most of the world's manufacturing came from Asia, especially China, but tariffs have made U.S. companies look for other countries to source from. Mexico has unique advantages: it is right across the border, there is a trade agreement (USMCA), merchandise is hours away by truck, and quality is top level.
How the merchandise moves
The merchandise is ready at the Mexican exporter's or seller's warehouse and is picked up by the truck that takes it to the border, as an LTL or FTL shipment. The most common route goes from the exporter's warehouse to the carrier's yard or warehouse at the border. There, a transfer truck with a permit to cross the border picks up the merchandise and crosses it to its destination on the U.S. side.
The merchandise has to be cleared by both Mexican and U.S. customs, through customs brokers on each side. Fast Distribution Services coordinates customs clearance on both sides of the border.
Requirements for the Mexican exporter and the U.S. importer
- Electronic invoice (CFDI) from the Mexican exporter, for the Mexican side.
- Commercial invoice from the Mexican exporter to the U.S. importer, for the U.S. side.
- The U.S. importer registered with CBP.
- A single entry bond or a continuous bond for the U.S. importer.
- Bill of lading.
- Packing list.
- USMCA certification of origin, when the merchandise qualifies.
Depending on the product, special permits or labeling may be required, for example FDA requirements for food.
After the merchandise crosses
Once it crosses, the merchandise can go to a carrier or to a distribution center like ours in Laredo, Texas, where we can:
- Label merchandise
- Pick and pack
- Consolidate with other merchandise
- Ship LTL or FTL anywhere in the USA
- Handle eCommerce and logistic distribution
- Prepare merchandise for specific customer requirements
Keep reading: logistic distribution in Laredo, Texas and frequently used words in logistics.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a customs bond to import from Mexico?
Yes. The importer needs a single entry bond or a continuous bond for formal entries.
What is a transfer truck?
The truck with the permit to cross the border that moves the trailer between Nuevo Laredo and Laredo.
Can you distribute the merchandise after it crosses?
Yes. From our warehouse in Laredo, Texas, we label, pick and pack, consolidate and ship LTL or FTL across the USA.
