Keep the code as background and request a review of the actual product for Mexico. Record differences, supporting evidence and points that remain unresolved.
Ask where the supplied code comes from
Keep the complete code, its description, who provided it and when. Ask whether it was used for export from China, another import transaction or simply as a commercial reference. Request the document or explanation connecting that code to the model you will purchase.
The World Customs Organization describes the Harmonized System, or HS, as an international nomenclature organized through codes and rules and used as a basis for customs tariffs. For your purchase, ask which level of the system the supplied reference describes.
Distinguish the international base from Mexican detail
SNICE explains that Mexico’s Número de Identificación Comercial (NICO) supplements the tariff line code, or fracción arancelaria, and enables more precise statistical identification of goods. That Mexican structure needs an explicit review when the supplier provides a reference from another system.
Ask the responsible professional to confirm the applicable Mexican tariff line and NICO for the item being imported. Request identification of the model, presentation and information reviewed. Avoid completing the code yourself by adding characters from a similar search result.
Document differences when codes disagree
When two suppliers suggest different codes, place their responses side by side and retain both. Ask each which characteristics they considered. Check whether they are describing the same goods or whether materials, function, components or presentation differ.
Send those differences to the professional with the corresponding technical sheets and photographs. If the supplier responds with only a catalogue name, request the technical detail needed to clarify the question. Mark unknown information rather than assuming both products are equivalent.
Use a table focused on the questions
This table helps prepare a review of a supplied reference. Complete the points that arise in your transaction and ask the reviewer to identify any additional evidence needed before a response can be given.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Question | Who can provide evidence | What the professional should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| The code has no country or system | Supplier proposing it | How it relates to Mexican classification |
| Two suppliers suggest different references | Both manufacturers | Which product differences are relevant |
| A material or component has changed | Manufacturer of the new version | Whether the previous response needs review |
| Goods arrive as a set or as parts | Supplier of the actual order | Which presentation is being assessed |
| Description conflicts with the technical sheet | Author of each document | Which information describes the goods |
| Some details remain unverified | Responsible technical contact | What prevents completion of the review |
Request the reasoning and unresolved points
Ask the response to explain which facts and criteria were reviewed and which documents support them. Confirm whether it addresses the specific order or depends on information that remains provisional. Ask how outstanding questions will be resolved and who should provide the next detail.
A response connected to your files makes it easier to query a later discrepancy. Retain the date, author and scope of review, and ask the professional when a formal inquiry to the competent authority would be needed.
Review changes before reusing the response
When the model, composition or presentation changes, send a comparison with the version reviewed previously. Ask the professional to confirm whether the response remains relevant. Identify the orders using each version and communicate corrections to the people preparing the transaction documents.
Keep the supplier’s code, file, response and outstanding questions in one register. For a transport inquiry with MX Pacific Express, add quantity, packaging, origin and destination. Classification is reviewed with the professional responsible for that function; the logistics scope is confirmed for each inquiry.
Sources and scope
- World Customs Organization · What is the Harmonized System (HS)?
- SNICE · Números de Identificación Comercial: NICO
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.
Prepare my product detailsRoutes, availability and delivery conditions are confirmed in each quote.