E-signature and its Impact on Foreign Trade in Mexico: Urgent Improvements Needed in Customs Systems

What is happening with SAT? This weekend, thousands of companies and foreign trade agents in Mexico faced a surprising interruption in their operations due to problems in the e-signature system of the Tax Administration Service (SAT). Specifically, multiple electronic signatures appeared "revoked" in the system, preventing their use in essential import and export procedures, such as the validation of customs declarations. This situation has generated a considerable impact on foreign trade logistics, as without a valid signature it is impossible to perform certain critical procedures for the entry and exit of goods in customs. The Importance of E-signature in Foreign Trade To understand the magnitude of the problem, it is key to understand the function of the e-signature. This digital resource allows individuals and companies to carry out procedures before SAT securely, without the need for a physical signature. That is, the e-signature is a tool that replaces the handwritten signature, with the advantage of allowing operations from anywhere and at any time. In foreign trade, the e-signature becomes an essential tool, as customs agents and companies need to complete certain electronic procedures to comply with regulations and formalities before products can cross borders. What happened with the e-signatures? On Sunday, October 27, the Confederation of Mexican Customs Agents Associations (CAAAREM) issued a statement confirming the severity of the situation. Initially, SAT reported that electronic signatures were "revoked" due to alleged "irregularities in taxpayers' fiscal situation," which generated alarm among companies and customs agents who suddenly found themselves unable to fulfill their logistics commitments. However, CAAAREM investigated further and determined that the revocation was an error in SAT's system and not a fault of the taxpayers. The confederation provided evidence to SAT and the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) demonstrating that the signatures had not expired nor presented fundamental problems. Given the evidence presented, SAT assured that it was already working to resolve the failure and that the complete restoration of e-signatures would be effective the same day. Impact on Foreign Trade: Delays and Costs The revocation of e-signatures directly affected companies dedicated to foreign trade. Without the possibility of validating their operations in SAT's system, these companies saw their import and export transactions halted. In many cases, this translates into delays in goods delivery and, consequently, an increase in operational costs. For example, a container that cannot be cleared through customs on time generates additional storage expenses and affects the entire supply chain. In a context of high international competitiveness, where delivery times are decisive, any interruption represents a loss of opportunity and competitiveness. Furthermore, this is not the first time that a failure in the Mexican government's digital systems has affected foreign trade. In February of this year, the customs of Nuevo Laredo and Manzanillo, two of the most important for product entry and exit, experienced computer problems in the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), which halted the flow of goods and caused economic losses. ANAM implemented a contingency phase on that occasion, but temporary solutions do not fully mitigate the costs associated with system instability. The Need to Improve Digital Infrastructure for Foreign Trade Faced with these constant interruptions, Mexico's foreign trade community demands significant improvements in the digital infrastructure of SAT and ANAM. In a globalized world, where logistics and operational efficiency are fundamental, a country must have stable and reliable digital systems that support its foreign trade activities. This weekend's situation has served as a reminder that, in an international business environment, errors and failures in digital systems have far-reaching consequences in import and export logistics, affecting not only companies but also the country's competitiveness. The foreign trade community hopes that these experiences will serve as a basis for the government to invest in strengthening its digital systems, minimizing the risk of future failures that put the sector's operational continuity at risk. What to Consider? The problem with SAT's e-signatures has demonstrated the critical dependence on digital infrastructure in foreign trade operations. Although SAT has reported that the situation is being addressed, the call from customs agents and companies is clear: Mexico needs more robust and reliable digital systems to improve its competitive position in the international market and avoid repetition of these problems in the future.