Several countries are taking economic sanctions against Russia under the international conflict, including certain countries are beginning or will begin to deny Russia the “most-favored-nation treatment” under the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

As for the Mexican government, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, the President indicated that no economic sanctions would be adopted against Russia (see El Financiero).

Notwithstanding the above, the Ministry of Economy of Mexico intended to establish a ban on the export of «dual-use goods» to Russia and Belarus due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the condemnation contained in the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations. On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement (CONAMER) published a preliminary draft of the Ministry of Economy for the modification of the «Agreement that establishes the dual-use goods, software and technologies whose export is subject to regulation by the Ministry of Economy» published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) in December 2020. 

This measure establishes export controls by the Mexican Ministry of Economy on the export of dual-use goods, software and technologies, which are susceptible to deviation for the proliferation and manufacture of conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. As noted above, the amendment to such measure intends to establish that such prior export permits will not be authorized when the destination is Russia and/or Belarus, as well as to «cancel» prior permits that are in force when the export destination is Russia and/or Belarus. 

Incredibly, today, Friday, March 4, 2022, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs considered that it is unnecessary to make a prohibition because there is a committee that reviews each application for a prior permit for the export of goods for use.

In VTZ, we  wish to point out that while Mexico does not have economic sanctions, companies that are doing business in Mexico, directly or indirectly, with Russia and/or Belarus and other jurisdictions (such as the U.S.) should seek advice on the extraterritorial effects of the measures of other countries, such as the United States.