Timeline and Upcoming Phases

The EU Council authorized the signing on May 11, 2026. Presidents Claudia Sheinbaum and Ursula von der Leyen are expected to sign the agreements on May 22, 2026.

The ICA will enter into force after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament, as it does not require the approval of the national parliaments of the Member States. The AGM, being a “mixed” agreement, requires ratification by all 27 EU Member States. Once ratified, the AGM will replace the ICA in its entirety.

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Access to Public Procurement

Mexico has opened its public procurement market to EU companies to a greater extent than any other trading partner.

• State Level: For the first time, European companies will be able to bid not only at the federal level, but also in 14 key Mexican states.
• Public-Private Partnerships: The agreement allows participation in service and works contracts under public-private investment models.
• Equal Treatment: It is guaranteed that bids from EU companies are treated on equal terms with local companies, under standards of transparency and non-discrimination.

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Intellectual Property and certification

The agreement establishes higher standards of protection than those of the WTO (TRIPS).

• Industrial Designs: Protection for up to 25 years.
• Copyright: Alignment with the high standards of EU legislation in terms of protection.
• Marks: Commitment to adhere to the Madrid Protocol and the possibility of seizing counterfeit goods in transit.

• Recognition of certificates: Mexico will accept the certification of products made in the EU, which avoids European companies having to re-certify their products under specific Mexican standards.

Simplification of the Rules of Origin

In complex sectors such as machinery, products are often manufactured with thousands of parts from different countries. If the rules are very strict or bureaucratic, companies find it difficult and costly to certify that the product is European, so they often end up paying the full tariff to avoid the paperwork.

The new agreement revises and relaxes these standards to adapt them to the current needs of the industry.

• Bilateral cumulation: Under this rule, if an EU company uses components that originate in Mexico, those components are counted as if they were European when calculating the origin of the final product (and vice versa). It is especially beneficial for sectors with thousands of components, such as automotive and machinery, where parts often cross borders several times during their manufacture.
• The presentation and processing of customs documentation and information will be allowed before the merchandise physically arrives in the country, allowing for immediate release.

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Mexico for amec sectors

Mexico is the 7th largest export destination for the sectors represented by amec, with 319.5 million euros in 2025. After a cycle of sustained growth between 2022 and 2024, the year 2025 saw a correction, although with disparate behavior between sectors. Packaging machinery and food machinery and technology stand out as the most dynamic sectors, with sustained growth throughout the period.

From the perspective of amec member companies, Mexico is also one of the most relevant markets in terms of establishment: it is the 2nd country in the world with the most established companies, only behind the United States, with 46 companies present. In the ranking of priority markets for 2026, it ranks 3rd.

The modernization of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement therefore comes at an opportune moment to consolidate and expand a trade relationship that for Spanish industry is already clearly structural in nature.