North American Competitiveness: The Strategic Role of Compliance

Speaking about business competitiveness in Mexico today necessarily means speaking about trust. In an increasingly demanding regional environment, compliance has evolved from a purely regulatory function into a strategic enabler of growth.

It is no longer just about meeting regulatory requirements, but about building the conditions that allow companies to integrate into opportunities of greater scale and sophistication.

In this context, compliance has become a common language among organizations seeking to prepare for operational, financial, and reputational risks.

Companies that understand this dynamic not only strengthen their corporate governance frameworks, but also enhance their ability to collaborate with third parties, participate in more rigorous due diligence processes, and integrate into high-value regional and global supply chains.

The most relevant of these supply chains is undoubtedly the one shaped by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which has the capacity not only to open markets, but also to establish standards.

This is particularly important as the agreement approaches a review phase. Mexican companies face the challenge of reinforcing their compliance policies if they intend to continue capitalizing on its benefits in the medium and long term.

Encouragingly, there are positive signs. EY’s "2024 Global Integrity Report" indicates that 64% of organizations in the region believe their levels of integrity have improved over the past two years.

This progress reflects a growing understanding within the business sector that compliance is not an obstacle to growth, but rather a prerequisite for competing effectively.

A New Filter for Regional Competitiveness

The USMCA is not merely a trade framework. Its evolution has also turned it into a mechanism of competitive selection.

An increasing number of Mexican companies are integrating into North American value chains, and the growing utilization of the agreement’s rules confirms this trend: estimates suggest that usage has risen from approximately 50% to nearly 85% in recent years.

The benefits of the agreement are not automatic. Access to these supply chains requires increasingly rigorous standards in traceability, rules of origin, transparency, and internal controls.

In practice, this means companies must document processes, strengthen internal oversight mechanisms, and ensure full traceability of their operations. Formalization is no longer an administrative exercise; it becomes a management tool that allows organizations to demonstrate compliance to authorities, clients, and investors alike. In an environment of constant verification, evidence itself becomes a strategic asset.

In this context, compliance is a clear differentiator: companies with robust compliance structures are better positioned not only to enter, but to remain and grow within these regional ecosystems.

This perspective also reshapes how supply chains are understood. Today, risk does not end at the company’s boundaries; it extends to suppliers, strategic partners, and third parties. Viewing the supply chain as an extension of enterprise risk elevates standards and demands consistent compliance practices across the entire operation.

At the same time, the convergence between compliance and finance is becoming increasingly evident. Transparency strengthens the confidence of investors and financial institutions, facilitating access to capital and more favorable financing conditions.

Moreover, strengthening compliance policies sends a clear signal to the market: the company understands that competing in North America requires adherence to shared standards. This signal reduces friction in negotiations, accelerates validation processes, and enhances predictability in commercial relationships. In the context of regional integration, trust is not declared — it is demonstrated.

Finally, in this environment, data emerges as a key enabler: it allows organizations to anticipate risks, improve decision-making, and sustain long-term business relationships.

Thus, far from being a passing trend, compliance is consolidating itself as a structural component of business competitiveness. Its value goes beyond regulatory adherence; it directly impacts a company’s ability to grow, secure financing, and integrate into increasingly demanding markets.