USMCA: Closer to Reality
On December 10, 2019, the White House and Congress announced that they have reached an agreement that opens a path for ratification of the new free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada (USMCA).
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Email: lresendiz@fredlaw.com
Office: +1 612.492.7186
U.S. Mobile: +1 612 597 0794
Mexico Mobile: +52 1 442 559 3460
Assistant: Marvic Salminen-Morillo, +1 612.492.7845
Luis is an international lawyer with law degrees from Mexico and the United States. He practiced law in Mexico for six years and has a combined legal experience of more than 23 years.
Luis routinely assists clients in the acquisition of companies with operations in other countries, primarily in Latin America. He aids companies in establishing operations in foreign jurisdictions. He counsels clients through all stages, including deciding which jurisdictions and corporate structure are most beneficial, seeking and negotiating incentives, negotiating real estate leases or purchases, helping with employment issues including negotiating with unions and obtaining the necessary licenses to operate.
Luis has particular expertise with companies operating under Mexico’s maquiladora (IMMEX) program (including shelters). He assists companies obtaining IMMEX programs, VAT certifications, PROSEC, Rule 8th, additional permits or registrations required to import sensitive materials (e.g. steel, textiles) and other appropriate authorizations. Luis provides continuous counseling to help companies stay in compliance with the very complex and continuously changing rules and regulations of the maquiladora industry, including tax and customs laws and foreign trade regulations. Luis also represents companies in audits, investigations, cancellation processes and other procedures initiated by the authorities.
Luis has extensive knowledge of the automotive industry. Many of his clients are suppliers to the auto industry. Luis constantly helps clients devise strategies to comply with demands from OEMs and their suppliers, including supply chains to ensure on-time deliveries, delivering product in Mexico and invoicing for product in Mexico while remaining in compliance with the legal restrictions imposed on companies operating under an IMMEX program.
Luis also works with investors in mining projects and has participated in multiple real estate development projects throughout Latin America. Luis routinely counsels companies setting up distribution channels in multiple jurisdictions, including negotiations with distributors and sales representatives.
In the United States, Luis practices commercial law and franchise law. He represents clients from multiple countries in their operations in the U.S., including tax planning, estate planning, corporate structure, mergers and acquisitions and contract negotiations and drafting.
Luis is the co-chair of the Latin America Practice Group. He oversees Fredrikson & Byron’s offices in Mexico and serves as the primary liaison in the firm’s relationship with the Mexican law firm Gabinete Corporativo, S.C.
Luis is uniquely qualified to represent U.S. clients doing business in Latin America and Latin American clients doing business in the U.S. His dual legal education and licensing, understanding of the different legal systems (civil code and common law), background and deep appreciation of the cultural differences allows him to provide exceptional and thorough counseling to clients with cross-border operations.
December 13, 2019
On December 10, 2019, the White House and Congress announced that they have reached an agreement that opens a path for ratification of the new free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada (USMCA).
November 7, 2017
Citing current imbalances on the steel industry, the Mexican government increased the import duties on 97 customs tariff classification codes of iron and steel products by 15 percent.
March 21, 2014
Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT) has signaled that intends to apply the new maquila requirements strictly. Companies using a maquiladora structure that are selling part of their production in Mexico, earning part of their income from non-maquila activities, or that otherwise do not fully comply with the new requirements must take action. All maquiladoras must be in full compliance with the new requirements by July 1, 2014.
January 7, 2014
On December 26, 2013, the president of Mexico published a decree granting tax incentives to the maquiladora industry. The decree lessens the impact of some of the changes under the tax reform. The decree became effective on January 1, 2014. Read more for a summary of important aspects of the decree.