In short: In Mexico, check whether 2026 tariff decrees affect your origin and code; in Brazil, check whether an ex-tarifário can reduce the duty.
Both countries change these rules often, and third-party tariff sites disagree, so we do not quote rates: please verify with customs or a licensed broker. Used machines face extra hurdles in Brazil, where the ex-tarifário does not apply to them.
Mexico: origin now matters more
Mexico made two large tariff changes in 2026 aimed at goods from countries without a free trade agreement, which include China, South Korea, India, Malaysia and Thailand:
- A decree published on 29 December 2025 and effective 1 January 2026 raised duties of 5–50 % on 1,463 eight-digit tariff lines across 17 sectors (source 1).
- A decree published on 23 April 2026 raised the general duty on 185 tariff classifications to 5–35 %, and amended the PROSEC decree (source 2).
The summaries we read do not name heading 8456 or Chapter 84 among the affected goods, but they do not rule it out either, and accessories may fall under other lines. Please verify the tariff line for your machine, loader and parts in the current TIGIE, with your customs broker (agente aduanal).
Programmes worth asking about
- PROSEC and Rule 8 (Regla Octava) can give reduced duties on certain goods to approved manufacturers in specific sectors (source 1).
- IMMEX is for export manufacturers. Temporary import rules have conditions, and source 1 warns that duties exempted under maquila programmes can still fall due in some USMCA cases.
If your factory exports to the United States or Canada, have your adviser check these before you choose a machine's origin.
Brazil: the ex-tarifário decides a lot
Brazil classifies machines under NCM codes, and its tariff has separate lines within 8456.11. Lookup sites show conflicting rates for them, so please verify the current rate in the official TEC or with your despachante. On top of import duty, Brazilian imports carry several other taxes, so ask for a full landed-cost calculation.
The main tool for capital goods is the ex-tarifário. Gecex Resolution 512 of 16 August 2023 sets rules for temporary reductions of import duty on capital goods without equivalent national production (source 3). Three points from its text matter:
- The reduction is for goods without equivalent national production, so a request can fail if a Brazilian maker offers an equivalent.
- The regime does not apply to used goods, and requests for them are rejected.
- It does not apply to integrated systems under this procedure, so a laser with a large automation line may need separate advice.
Existing ex-tarifários have exact technical wording and expiry dates. Ask your adviser whether one covers your machine word for word, including its power. Rules change often, so check the latest Gecex resolutions on the MDIC website.
Used machines
Brazil: a Brazilian legal commentary explains that used capital goods need import licensing under Portaria Secex 249/2023, while used consumer goods are generally not allowed (source 4). The ex-tarifário does not apply either, so a used laser usually costs more in duty than a new one with an ex-tarifário.
Mexico: ask your broker how used machinery is treated for your tariff line. Do not assume it is the same as new. See used vs new fiber laser cutters.
Site checks for both countries
| Check | Mexico | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| First question | Which origin, and does an FTA or programme apply? | Does an ex-tarifário cover this exact machine? |
| Who confirms | Agente aduanal, Secretaría de Economía | Despachante, MDIC, Receita Federal |
| Used machine | Ask for your tariff line | Licensing required; no ex-tarifário |
| Power | Confirm voltage and frequency on site | Confirm voltage and frequency on site; they can vary by region |
| Language | Spanish documents may be needed | Portuguese documents may be needed |
| Service | No Halcyon service office yet | No Halcyon service office yet |
Summary by Halcyon Laser. Not legal or customs advice.
A 20–40 kW system needs a dedicated supply, so confirm it with your electrician early; see power requirements. We have no service office in Mexico or Brazil, so agree remote support, spare parts and visits in writing. Our guide to comparing after-sales service lists the questions to ask.
Before you sign
- Confirm origin and tariff line for the machine and each accessory.
- In Mexico, check the 2026 decrees and any programme you hold.
- In Brazil, check ex-tarifário coverage and national production.
- Get a full landed-cost calculation from a licensed professional.
- Agree on installation, training, spare parts and service in the contract.
Send your parts and site details through our enquiry form. We can supply commercial documents and technical data; classification and duty assessment stay with your broker and customs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the import duty on a laser cutter in Mexico?
We do not quote one, because third-party sites are not official and the rules changed twice in 2026. Please verify the tariff line in the current TIGIE with your customs broker.
Did Mexico raise tariffs on machinery from China in 2026?
Mexico raised duties on many lines from non-FTA countries in 2026. The summaries we read do not name heading 8456, so check your exact tariff line with a broker.
What is an ex-tarifário in Brazil?
It is a temporary reduction of import duty for capital goods without equivalent national production, under Gecex Resolution 512/2023. It must match the machine's description closely.
Does the ex-tarifário apply to used machines?
No. Gecex Resolution 512/2023 excludes used goods and integrated systems. Used capital goods also need import licensing.
Do you have service in Mexico or Brazil?
Not yet. We have no service office there. Support today is remote diagnostics, a starter spare-parts kit, and visits agreed in the quotation.
Sources
- Alejandro N. Gomez-Strozzi, Gregory Husisian, “Mexican January 2026 Tariff Tsunami: Maquilas Aren’t Immune”, Foley & Lardner, 29 December 2025 — www.foley.com (accessed 2026-11-01)
- Baker McKenzie, Global Import Blog, on the Mexican decree increasing the general import duty (27 April 2026) — globalimportblog.bakermckenzie.com (accessed 2026-11-01)
- Resolução Gecex nº 512, de 16 de agosto de 2023 (Diário Oficial da União; MDIC copy) — www.gov.br (accessed 2026-11-01)
- Consultor Jurídico, “Importação de bens usados: tratamento aduaneiro e tributário” (16 April 2024) — www.conjur.com.br (accessed 2026-11-01)
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