Request names and responsibilities in writing. A transport offer or trading name alone does not identify the importing party.
Identify the importing party first
Ask for the legal name of the party that will appear as importer in the transaction. Establish which information it supplies, which documents it retains and how it relates to you as the buyer.
SAT publishes the Importers’ Registry application process and its requirements. Use that portal with the professional responsible for your transaction to review registration and any product-specific conditions. This preparation checklist does not determine whether a particular operation qualifies for an exception.
Confirm who handles customs clearance
SAT describes an agente aduanal as an individual authorized through a customs patent to promote clearance on another party’s behalf. When contracting that involvement, identify the professional and scope of the engagement.
Request a contact to review product information before dispatch. Agree who resolves classification, documentation and requirements questions. The company arranging transport may be a different party.
A responsibility matrix to complete with your team
The following table organizes contracting questions. It does not replace each participant’s legal duties or contracts.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Role | What to establish | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier | Product, value, packaging and ready date | Invoice or proposal and product sheet |
| Importer | Identity and responsibility in the transaction | Details and documents agreed with the customs professional |
| Customs services | Who reviews and carries out the contracted work | Professional identification, engagement and contact |
| Logistics coordination | Contracted collection, transport and delivery points | Quote and transport conditions |
| Trading company | Whether it buys, sells, imports or provides a defined service | Contract setting out its role and supporting documents |
| Receiver | Who accepts the cartons and arranges unloading | Address, appointment and receiving contact |
Ask what comercializadora means in that proposal
The term can appear in offers with different scopes. Ask whether the company will sell the goods in Mexico, act as importer or only coordinate a service. Check which entity signs the contract and issues each document.
If the offer involves importing through another company, have the customs professional and your accounting adviser review the arrangement and proposed documentation before committing to the purchase. Avoid deciding solely on a per-kilogram rate or an “all included” description.
Check that the order and logistics describe the same transaction
Compare the description, quantity, value and participants across the documents provided. If the seller changes the importing company, request an explanation and scope review before shipment.
For DDP purchases, also confirm who will perform the tasks in Mexico. The sales term allocates responsibilities between seller and buyer; you still need to identify the actual arrangement and supporting documents.
How to frame the first inquiry
Send the product, material, use, actual value, packaging, origin and destination. Include what you know about the importing party and mark the unresolved points.
An MX Pacific Express inquiry supports a review of the logistics scope available for your cargo. Confirm the proposed services and responsibilities separately; this guide does not offer use of a third party’s registration or establish customs authorization for the brand.
Sources and scope
Sources consulted on 26 October 2026. Checklists and examples are planning guidance prepared by MX Pacific Express. Other operators’ processes illustrate concepts; the conditions for your cargo are confirmed separately.
Prepare your next step
Share the product, packaging, weight, origin and destination. Identify any information still pending so your inquiry can be reviewed with the right scope.
Clarify the logistics scope of my purchaseRoutes, availability and delivery conditions are confirmed in each quote.