The Economic Complementation Agreement (ACE) No 55 regarding the automotive sector between Mexico and the member countries of the MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) was signed in July 2002 as part of the ongoing negotiations anticipated under Economic Complementation Agreement (ACE) No 54.

Under the automotive agreement, countries negotiate annual bilateral import quotas for tariff-free entry of automobiles. Such annual quotas have been established between Mexico and Argentina; Mexico and Brazil; and Mexico and Uruguay. Negotiations towards the auto sector agreement concluded on 05 July 2002 at the XXII Summitt of Presidents of MERCOSUR. The agreement, which was signed on 27 September 2002, anticipates free trade in automobiles as of July 2011.

The agreement entered into force on 01 January 2003. In Brazil the agreement was entered into force as of 15 January 2003.

Legislation to implement the agreement in each of the countries that have completed their procedures is as follows:

Argentina: Note C.R. N° 172/02 of 17 December 2002 - Decree N° 415/92 (CR/di 1528).
Brasil: Note N° 201 of 08 November 2002- Decree 4.458 of06 November 2002 (CR/di 1514).
México: Note N° 286/02 of 19 December 2002 (CR/di1550) and Note N° 1/03 of 3 January 2003 which annexes the agreement published in the official gazette of 31 December 2002 (CR/di 1542).
Uruguay: Note N° 893/02 of 17 December 2002 - Decree 663/05 of 27 November 1985 (CR/di 1533).

Source: Secretaría General de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI)

Several Protocols modifying parts of the agreement have been adopted since its entry into force.

On 10 March 2015, the governments of Brazil and Mexico reached an agreement to amend the Agreement of Economic Complementation 55 (ACE 55).

A few days later, on 16 March 2015, Argentina and Brazil signed with Mexico the Fifth Additional Protocol to Appendix I and the Fifth Additional Protocol to Appendix II to amend the ACE 55, respectively.

On March 19, 2019, Argentina and Mexico agreed to continue to trade based on quotas for 3 more years. As of March 19, 2019, the quota in the car trade between Mexico and Argentina will have an annual increase of 10% in the first year, 5% in the second year and 5% in the third year. Once this period of transition is over, free trade in cars will come into effect at the same time as the expansion and deepening of ACE 6 Mexico-Argentina.

Documents related to the Implementation
19 March 2019	Argentina and Mexico agree to continue to trade based on quotas for 3 more years
16 March 2015	Brazil and Mexico agree to extend auto trade agreement
16 March 2015	Argentina and Mexico agree to extend until 2019 the Fifth Additional Protocol to Appendix I to ACE 55
10 March 2005	Brazil and Mexico Reach Agreement to amend the Agreement of Economic Complementation 55 (ACE 55)
Source: Secretaría de Economía de México; Secretaría General de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI)

• Embajada de México en Uruguay
• Secretaría de Economía de México
• Secretaría General de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI)