Jump to:
- Trade agreements with Mexico
- Finding information on government procurement opportunities in Mexico
- Your rights in Mexico
- Market access: what Mexico covers
- Conditions for participating in government procurement
- Additional information for selling goods and services in Mexico
- Department for Business and Trade support
- Useful resources
- Legal disclaimer
Trade agreements with Mexico
The UK has 2 free trade agreements (FTAs) with Mexico:
- the UK-Mexico Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) which entered into force on 1 June 2021
- the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement including 12 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the UK and Vietnam), which entered into force between the UK and Mexico on 22 June 2026
The UK-Mexico TCA should be read in conjunction with the following Parliamentary report as certain elements therein have undergone slight changes to adapt the existing agreement to the UK outside the EU.
The UK-Mexico TCA will remain in force alongside CPTPP. At times, you will need to specify which agreement you choose to trade under (notably when applying rules of origin), but benefits from either agreement will mostly apply automatically. Our guides attempt to highlight where businesses may need to make an explicit decision.
CPTPP entry into force and ratification
As of 22 June 2026, CPTPP is in force between the UK and:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Chile
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Singapore
- Vietnam
This means that the UK can access CPTPP provisions with these countries.
Canada has have not yet ratified the terms of the UK’s accession. This means that the UK cannot yet access CPTPP provisions in this country.
This guidance will be updated following the remaining country's ratification of the terms of the UK’s accession to CPTPP and will include when CPTPP will enter in force between the UK and the relevant remaining country.
These agreements provide you with guaranteed access to covered government procurement opportunities across the CPTPP countries. They ensure systems for procurement are transparent, accessible and that you can compete with local businesses on equal terms.
CPTPP Chapter 15: Government Procurement (please note that this link directs you to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry which is responsible for the CPTPP agreement text) and UK-Mexico Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) set the rules for government procurement processes between UK businesses and Mexican procuring entities.
Finding information on government procurement opportunities in Mexico
With an approved government spending budget of 8.25 trillion MXN (more than £362 billion) for 2023, Mexico’s government procurement market is one of the largest in Latin American and the Caribbean. This covers a vast spectrum of public spending from the acquisition of goods and services for infrastructure and construction works, to the purchase of supplies for wider sectors, such as health, defence and education.
The Mexican government is investing heavily in modernising the country's infrastructure and transport networks. This includes initiatives in the water, airports, highways, railways, maritime, ports, energy, industrial parks, and real estate subsectors, with the aim of boosting economic activity nationwide. This opens up a wealth of opportunities to UK businesses selling goods or services in the energy, railway, water, or logistics sectors, among many others.
UK businesses can access government procurement opportunities on the Mexican government procurement portal Compras MX. To participate in public tenders, all businesses, local and foreign, must register free of change on Compras MX. There is a guide for international businesses to join the national procurement portal. A wider step-by-step guide (please note that this website is in Spanish) is also available.
Whilest a local representative or presence is not usually required to bid on government contracts in Mexico, this can simplify the process and help overcome language barriers. Our Export Support Services team can help identify potential partners.
Your rights in Mexico
The UK and other CPTPP countries have agreed rules for government procurement processes. These rules make it unlawful for procuring entities to discriminate against you in relation to covered procurement opportunities and ensure that procurement processes are carried out in a transparent and fair manner.
There are several requirements set out in these agreements which benefit you when participating in another CPTPP government procurement market. However, please note that the full list of requirements is not provided in this guidance.
Non-discrimination
A guarantee of non-discrimination when you bid for covered procurement contracts under the categories listed in the market access schedules (further detail on market access schedules below). This means that when bidding for covered contracts, and throughout the procurement process, you should receive the same treatment as domestic businesses.
Disclosure of information
If your bid is unsuccessful, you can request information on the contract award decision. This means that, where it is possible to do so without disclosing confidential information, the procuring entity should provide you with an explanation of the reasons why they did not select your tender or the relative advantages of the successful tender.
Domestic review procedures
Each CPTPP country must have an impartial and independent review authority to enable supplier challenges or complaints. Procuring entities are also required to consider complaints fairly, promptly and in a way that does not affect your access to ongoing or future procurements. This means that if you believe there has been a breach of rules, you can challenge the procuring entity's decisions.
Electronic processes
A commitment to conduct government procurement via electronic means where possible.
Market access: what Mexico covers
Mexico’s market access schedules set out the procuring entities and sectors that are covered under UK-Mexico FTA and CPTPP rules. They also include information on the value a procurement contract must be worth to be covered and detail of any exemptions to coverage.
For the UK-Mexico FTA, Mexico’s market access schedule can be found in Annex VII.
For CPTPP, Mexico’s market access schedule can be found in Annex 15-A to J Mexico Government Procurement (please note that this link directs you to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry which is responsible for the CPTPP agreement text).
Entities
Mexico provides substantial coverage of its government procurement market in its market access schedules and has included:
- central government entities: for example, Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Public Education, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Health
- utilities: for example, International Airport of Mexico City and Railroad of the Itsmo de Tehuatepec
Goods and services, including construction services
You have legally guaranteed access to procurement opportunities across many different areas, including but not limited to:
- research and development services
- architecture and engineering services
- advertising services
Conditions for participating in government procurement
In order to participate in procurement opportunities in a CPTPP country, you do not need prior experience or contracts with procuring entities in that country. A procuring entity may advertise conditions of participation, which must relate only to ensuring suppliers’ legal and financial capacity and commercial and technical ability to fulfil the contract. Procuring entities will evaluate your bid by reference to these conditions, based on your activities whether inside or outside CPTPP countries.
You may be excluded from participating in a procurement for various reasons if there is supporting evidence for the exclusion, including:
- bankruptcy or insolvency
- false declarations
- deficiencies in performance of requirements under a prior contract
- failure to pay taxes
- serious crimes, offences or professional misconduct
Additional information for selling goods and services in Mexico
You must still comply with customs and import regulations when selling goods as part of a government contract. Selling any goods overseas will require following certain rules and regulations you have in place with your buyer. There is additional guidance on international commercial terms and import conditions into Mexico.
Mexican customs regulate all goods imported into Mexico. This is all done through one single platform, which is called Ventanilla Unica (Single Trade Window) (please note that the website is in Spanish). You will need to provide important declarations and documents, in addition to paying all relevant duties and taxes. You can check our guide on Tariffs and Customs in Mexico. You will need to provide important declarations and documents, in addition to paying all relevant duties and taxes.
Providing services overseas will have other consequences including for tax, intellectual property, and local labour regulations. Refer to the following for more advice:
- Mexican Tax Administration Service
- Mexican Intellectual Property Office (in Spanish)
- if in doubt, consider appointing an English-speaking lawyer in Mexico to help you comply with specific regulations, you can find guidance on English-speaking lawyers and translators/interpreters in Mexico on GOV.UK
You can also find more information in the Department for Business and Trade support section.
UK and Mexico have also agreed provisions to make it easier for businesspeople to travel and stay temporarily in Mexico. For more information, you can check our guide on Temporary Entry in Mexico.
Department for Business and Trade support
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade. Helpful links, tools and services available from DBT and wider government include:
Export Support Service (ESS) team
Get support on how to do business abroad. Businesses in Wales can also access support from Business Wales.
Export Support Service – International Markets (ESS-IM)
DBT's overseas in-market export support service for SMEs with high-export potential. Our International Market Advisers provide tailored support and market introduction information to new and current UK exporters looking to enter or expand into new markets. The service may be accessed globally with International Markets teams in South Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America.
Sign up to access webinars on how to grow your international sales.
Information on finance and insurance for UK exports.
Trade and investment factsheets
The latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and individual overseas partners.
Overseas business risk profiles
Information for UK businesses on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas.
Advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
Check or report a trade barrier
If you encounter an issue when exporting to any country – report the issue and UK government officials will be able to assess the issue and consider the options we have open to addressing it as appropriate.
Search for your specific product to find applicable tariffs for each market, explore rules of origin and step-by-step help on customs procedures.
Check import duties and allows you to check the status of available tariff rate quotas.
Useful resources
To find out more about export opportunities to Mexico, please consult DBT’s market guide. This page will also help you understand more about business culture in Mexico, and links to existing trade barriers with this market.
Prior to export, you must be aware of local regulations and import conditions in Mexico that apply to your goods or services. This can include tax considerations, labour laws, intellectual property rules, labelling and packaging regulations, among others.
For further information related to local regulations, business culture, or to find a local lawyer, translator, importer or distributor, use the following contacts:
- DBT’s Export Support Service International Markets team
- get in touch with DBT at the local British Embassy
- get in touch with the British Chamber of Commerce in Mexico
For information on political, economic and security risks when trading with Mexico, see:
Legal disclaimer
This document is provided as an information guide only and should not be relied on as a substitute for your own research or independent advice.
No investment and/or business decision should be made solely on the basis of information presented in this document. It is recommended that an independent due diligence investigation is conducted before entering into engagement with any individual, business or other organisation mentioned.
The Department for Business and Trade accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage caused to any person as result of any error, omission, inaccurate or misleading statement in this document.
The accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content of any website mentioned in this document is not guaranteed in any way, implied or explicit.
