Judith
Alvarez

Senior Trade Consultant

Navigating Complexity

Judith is a Mexico trade expert. Early in her career, she developed a deep knowledge of Mexican customs regulations, first managing the import and export operations for an automotive manufacturer, then managing the trade compliance departments of three multinational companies in Mexico. She helped develop and standardized processes, improved controls and shipments visibility, and managed the introduction of Annex 24, establishing procedures for inventory control.

Judith is highly qualified in IMMEX regulations, AEO/C-TPAT certifications, FTA origin determinations, duty minimization analysis, HTS classification, inventory controls, Normas Oficiales Mexicanas certificates, and other import permits.

Professional ethos: Honesty. Commitment. Says Judith: "Those are the values that guide me in many aspects of my life, including my work. Honesty creates trust; trust has helped me build a valuable network of clients. I consider myself a resilient, empathetic, and determined person."

What makes the difference in client relationships: "Precise and clear communication. It allows clients to have real expectations about services and deliverables. There are no long-term client relationships without consistently clear communications."

Work of note: In 2015, Judith worked with Tesla to import its first vehicles into Mexico, which were sold through a novel pop-up store. "The request came to us in September of 2015 and everything had to be ready for a November launch. We did it all — obtaining the register of importers, import permits, and developing each step in the logistics chain. To this day, Tesla continues to import vehicles and auto parts to Mexico based on our work." Judith also oversaw the reconstruction of Annex 24 for Delphi, one of the largest automotive manufacturers in Mexico with more than 30 plants. "It took us several years. The great challenge was to develop a service for a client with such massive volumes. I spent every work week for over a year in a border city away from home. In the end, Delphi was very satisfied with the results. They continue to be clients for a number of different services we provide."

The biggest opportunities for clients today: "Many companies still do not have a culture of customs compliance, nor adequate training to identify risks when importing and exporting. Part of my job is to support them in identifying the risks and developing that culture through the right processes and procedures. It becomes a competitive advantage."