Tariff classification is the code that customs assigns to every product crossing the border. In Mexico it is called the fracción arancelaria, and it determines the duty you pay, the regulations and permits that apply to your product, and whether it qualifies for preferential treatment under trade agreements.
How the code is built
It starts from the international Harmonized System, shared by most countries in its first six digits, and extends with Mexico’s own digits: the eight-digit fracción plus the commercial identification number (NICO). Classification is technical work: two neighboring codes can mean a different duty rate, a mandatory standard or a prior permit.
Why it matters when importing from China
You need the classification before you close the purchase, not after. It tells you the true landed cost and the compliance requirements, and both change the economics of the deal. Asking for the classification with the goods already on the water means discovering the extra costs when you can no longer do anything about them.
The common mistake
Copying the code your Chinese supplier uses, or one found online for a similar product. Classification depends on the exact composition, function and presentation of your goods, and a wrong code detected by the authority can mean back duties, fines or seizure. The classification is determined by the customs broker using the real technical details of the product.
Want to know what your product would pay before committing to a supplier? Write to us and we review it as part of our logistics from China.
