Country Guide
Exporting from Mexico to Brazil
ACE 55 duty-free automotive trade, limited ACE 53 preferences for other goods, and how to navigate Brazil's import system from Latin America's other giant.
ACE 55 (automotive) + ACE 53 (limited goods)Mexico and Brazil — Latin America's two largest economies — have a complex but limited trade relationship. The ACE 55 (Acuerdo de Complementación Económica N° 55) provides duty-free access for the automotive sector, while ACE 53 covers a limited number of other product categories with partial tariff preferences. For most goods, Mexican exporters pay the full Mercosur Common External Tariff.
Partial preferential access: ACE 55 + ACE 53
Mexico has two ALADI agreements with Brazil: ACE 55 (automotive — 0% duty within managed quotas) and ACE 53 (limited product categories with partial tariff reductions). Most non-automotive goods pay the full MFN rate. A comprehensive Mexico-Mercosur FTA does not exist.
Trade Data: Mexico → Brazil
Source: UN Comtrade 2023Brazil reports 30.7% more imports from Mexico than Mexico reports in exports. This CIF/FOB spread is typical — Brazil values at CIF (including freight & insurance), while Mexico values at FOB (port of departure). Large gaps can also indicate re-exports through third countries.
Top Mexican exports to Brazil by value
2023 FOB values in USD| # | Product | 2023 Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8703.23Vehicles; with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engi... | $555.0M | Duties → |
| 2 | 8704.31Vehicles; spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, for transport of goo... | $218.9M | Duties → |
| 3 | 8708.40Vehicle parts; gear boxes and parts thereof | $194.1M | Duties → |
| 4 | 3004.90Medicaments; consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004,... | $102.6M | Duties → |
| 5 | 7602.00Aluminium; waste and scrap | $98.8M | Duties → |
| 6 | 8537.10Boards, panels, consoles, desks and other bases; for electric control or the dis... | $85.7M | Duties → |
| 7 | 8527.21Radio-broadcast receivers not capable of operating without an external source of... | $83.4M | Duties → |
| 8 | 8708.50Vehicle parts; drive-axles with differential, whether or not provided with other... | $80.9M | Duties → |
| 9 | 8708.29Vehicles; parts and accessories, of bodies, other than safety seat belts | $80.4M | Duties → |
| 10 | 8512.20Lighting or visual signalling equipment; electrical, of a kind used on motor veh... | $75.6M | Duties → |
| 11 | 8708.95Vehicle parts; safety airbags with inflater system; parts thereof | $70.3M | Duties → |
| 12 | 8708.30Vehicle parts; brakes, servo-brakes and parts thereof | $58.3M | Duties → |
| 13 | 8708.94Vehicle parts; steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes; parts there... | $58.1M | Duties → |
| 14 | 7010.90Glass; carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers of glas... | $54.4M | Duties → |
| 15 | 7404.00Copper; waste and scrap | $50.8M | Duties → |
| 16 | 8471.50Units of automatic data processing machines; processing units other than those o... | $50.6M | Duties → |
| 17 | 8708.99Vehicle parts and accessories; n.e.c. in heading no. 8708 | $48.3M | Duties → |
| 18 | 8517.62Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations); machines fo... | $44.2M | Duties → |
| 19 | 9032.89Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic, other than hydra... | $37.0M | Duties → |
| 20 | 8431.49Machinery; parts of machines handling earth, minerals or ores and n.e.c. in head... | $34.7M | Duties → |
Values in USD, FOB (Mexico port of departure). Trend compares 2023 vs 2022. Click any HS code for Brazil duty rates and Ex-Tarifário status.
Key product categories and tariff access
| Product | MFN duty | ACE preference | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles & auto parts Cars, trucks, auto parts, engines | 35% (MFN) | 0% (ACE 55) | Bilateral auto agreement | View HS 87 → |
| Electrical equipment Auto electronics, telecom, cables | 14-18% | Some ACE 53 | Anatel for wireless | View HS 85 → |
| Machinery Engines, pumps, auto machinery | 14% | Some ACE 53 | Ex-Tarifário possible | View HS 84 → |
| Beverages Tequila, mezcal, beer (Corona, Modelo) | 20% | No preference | Growing market | View HS 22 → |
| Plastics Auto plastics, polyethylene | 14-18% | Some ACE 53 | Standard duty | View HS 39 → |
| Petroleum Crude oil, petroleum products | 0-6% | No preference | ANP license | View HS 27 → |
| Pharmaceuticals Generic drugs, APIs | 0-8% | No preference | ANVISA mandatory | View HS 30 → |
| Steel articles Tubes, pipes, auto steel parts | 14-18% | Some ACE 53 | Anti-dumping possible | View HS 73 → |
ACE 55: the automotive agreement
The ACE 55 is the cornerstone of Mexico-Brazil trade. Similar to the Argentina-Brazil ACE 14, it manages bilateral automotive trade:
- 0% import duty on vehicles and auto parts within managed quotas
- Flex coefficient: limits the trade imbalance between the two countries — neither can run an excessive surplus
- Rules of Origin: minimum 35-40% regional value content required (Mexico + Mercosur)
- Key players: Stellantis, VW, Nissan, GM, Ford all operate plants in both countries and move vehicles/parts bilaterally
- Managed annually: quotas and coefficients are renegotiated regularly between the two governments
ACE 55 ≠ free trade
The ACE 55 provides 0% duty but within strict quotas and Flex limits. If quotas are exhausted, the full 35% MFN rate applies. Always verify current quota availability before committing to a shipment.
ACE 53: limited preferences for non-automotive goods
ACE 53 covers a limited number of tariff lines (approximately 800) with margins of preference of 20-100% on the MFN rate. Covered products include:
- Certain chemicals and plastics
- Some steel and metal products
- Specific electrical and electronic components
- Selected agricultural products
Most Mexican exports to Brazil are NOT covered by ACE 53. Tequila, beer, food products, consumer goods, and most manufactured goods pay the full MFN rate.
Tequila, mezcal & Mexican beverages
Mexico's iconic spirits face significant tariff barriers in Brazil:
- Import duty: 20% — no preferential reduction under ACE 53 or ACE 55
- IPI: 30-40% — varies by alcohol content
- No GI protection: unlike EU products under EU-Mercosur, "Tequila" and "Mezcal" do not have specific GI protection in Brazil under any trade agreement (though Mexican GIs may be protected under general trademark law)
- Growing market: Brazilian tequila consumption is growing rapidly, driven by cocktail culture and premium spirits trends
The EU-Mercosur competitive gap
For non-automotive products, Mexican exporters face increasing competition from EU suppliers who benefit from tariff phase-outs:
- Machinery (HS 84): Mexican exporters pay 14% while EU competitors phase to 0% by 2036
- Electronics (HS 85): 14-18% MFN vs. EU phase-out to 0%
- Automotive sector: ACE 55 provides some protection here, but EU-Mercosur also has a 50,000-unit TRQ for EU vehicles
MAPA-authorized establishments
Source: SIGSIF/DIPOA56 Mexican facilities are authorized by Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture to export animal products.
Regulatory requirements
- ANVISA — pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics. COFEPRIS (Mexican) authorization does not replace ANVISA
- INMETRO — electrical equipment, auto parts. NOM (Mexican standard) does NOT replace INMETRO
- MAPA — food products, tequila. SENASICA phytosanitary certificates required
- Anatel — all wireless devices. IFT (Mexican) certification does not apply in Brazil
?What is an NCM code?
NCM (Nomenclatura Comum do Mercosul) is Brazil's 8-digit tariff classification code. The first 6 digits match the international HS (Harmonized System) code — the remaining 2 are Mercosur-specific. Every import tax rate in Brazil is determined by the NCM code.
HS → NCM lookup tool?What is a CNPJ?
CNPJ (Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica) is Brazil's national business registry number — equivalent to an EIN (US), Company Number (UK), or Handelsregisternummer (Germany). Every company that imports into Brazil must have a CNPJ.
CNPJ registration guide?What is RADAR?
RADAR (Registro e Rastreamento da Atuação dos Intervenientes Aduaneiros) is Receita Federal's mandatory import/export authorization. Your Brazilian buyer needs active RADAR before any goods can clear customs. It comes in three modalities with different value limits.
RADAR & customs clearance guidePractical next steps
- Find your product's NCM code — enter your fracción arancelaria or HS code
- Check ACE 55 (automotive) or ACE 53 (general) coverage for your product
- Check Ex-Tarifário status — immediate 0% for qualifying capital goods (origin-neutral)
- Calculate the full landed cost — all 7 Brazilian taxes included
- Contact COMCE (Consejo Empresarial Mexicano de Comercio Exterior) or the Mexican Embassy trade office in Brasília