Assignment: Cross-Border Regulatory Comparison Report

Worth: 3 points

Format: Individual or group work

Overview

You just reviewed an example of a Cross-Border Regulatory Comparison Report for the U.S. and Mexico in the realm of tech companies. Now you’ll create your own report as a consultant to a U.S. organization wanting to enter the Mexican market.

You’ve been approached by a U.S. company seeking to expand into Mexico. They’ve asked you to prepare a report identifying the key regulations that impact international trade in their industry and provide recommendations for their market entry strategy.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this assignment, you will be able to:

Do research related to regulations that takes into account U.S. and Mexican legal systems
Navigate systemic legal differences between the U.S. and Mexico in a specific area of law
Communicate about areas of difference in legal frameworks that you’ve researched in a professional way
Relate lessons learned about legal differences to international business projects
Continue deepening your knowledge of international law based on the research skills you’ve developed

Workflow

Step 1: Choose Your Client Company

Select one real company from the industry categories below. Each group must choose a different company. The company should be one that operates primarily in another country (not Mexico) and would benefit from entering the Mexican market.

Industry Category	Description	Primary Regulatory Considerations
Agriculture	Agricultural products, farming equipment, and biotechnology solutions	Pesticide regulations, food safety standards, environmental compliance, biotechnology approvals
Food & Beverage	Processed foods, beverages, and nutritional supplements	Food safety certifications, labeling requirements, import/export licenses, health claims validation
E-commerce	Online retail platforms and digital marketplaces	Consumer protection laws, data privacy regulations, cross-border taxation, digital services compliance
Fintech/Digital Payments	Digital payment processing, mobile banking, and financial technology services	Financial services licensing, anti-money laundering regulations, data protection, consumer financial protection
Textiles & Clothing	Apparel manufacturing, fashion retail, and textile production	Labor standards compliance, supply chain transparency, textile safety regulations, trade agreements
Cosmetics & Personal Care	Beauty products, skincare, and personal hygiene items	Product safety testing, ingredient restrictions, marketing claims verification, cosmetic regulations
Travel & Tourism	Travel agencies, hospitality services, and tourism platforms	Travel licensing, consumer protection, health and safety standards, international travel regulations
Healthcare	Medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare services	Drug approval processes, medical device certifications, healthcare licensing, patient data protection
Education	Educational technology, online learning platforms, and educational services	Student data privacy, professional accreditation, accessibility compliance, international education standards
Renewable Energy	Solar, wind, and clean energy technology solutions	Environmental impact assessments, renewable energy incentives, electrical safety standards, professional licensing

How to choose your company

Pick an industry category that interests your group
Research companies in that industry that operate in other countries but not yet in Mexico
Choose a specific company that you can find regulatory information about
Confirm that no other group has chosen the same company

Step 2: Research Key Mexican Business Regulation

Identify one specific regulation that significantly affects your chosen company’s industry in Mexico. Focus on a single, well-defined regulatory requirement rather than trying to cover all regulations for the industry.

Examples of specific regulations:

COFEPRIS approval process for pharmaceutical imports
NOM standards for electrical equipment safety
CNBV licensing requirements for financial services
Organic certification procedures under SENASICA

Step 3: Research Corresponding U.S. Regulation

Find the equivalent or comparable regulation that governs the same business activity in the United States.

Step 4: Develop Recommendations

Based on your regulatory comparison, determine what recommendations you would make to help the company navigate the differences between U.S. and Mexican requirements.

Step 5: Write Your Report

Follow the report format outlined below to create a professional consulting document.

Report Format (3-4 pages, double-spaced)

Administrative Information

Report Title: Cross-Border Regulatory Analysis: [Company Name] Market Entry into Mexico
Prepared by: [Student names]
Date: [Current date]
Client: [Fictitious company name]

1. Introduction (1 paragraph)

Who is the company and what do they do?
Why are you working with this company as a consultant?
What specific regulatory area does this report cover?
What recommendations will you provide?

2. Key Business Regulations in Mexico (1-2 paragraphs)

Describe the specific Mexican regulation you researched
Explain the requirements, procedures, or standards companies must meet
Include information about relevant regulatory agencies
Discuss compliance timelines or costs if applicable

3. Corresponding Regulations in the U.S. (1-2 paragraphs)

Describe the equivalent U.S. regulation
Explain how it compares to the Mexican requirements
Identify key similarities and differences
Note any areas where requirements are more or less stringent

4. Recommendations (1-2 paragraphs)

What should the company do to prepare for Mexican market entry?
What compliance steps are necessary?
What timeline should they expect?
What resources or partnerships might they need?
How can they leverage their existing U.S. compliance experience?

5. Conclusion (1 paragraph)

Summarize the key regulatory differences
Restate your main recommendations
Comment on the overall feasibility of market entry from a regulatory perspective

6. Works Consulted

List all sources used for regulatory research
Include government websites, official documents, and industry resources

Submission Requirements

File Naming Conventions

LastNames1_LastNames2_CrossBorderReport.docx (list all team members’ last names separated by underscores)

Examples:

Brandt_MartínezWilliams_CrossBorderReport.docx
MartínezWilliams_Chen_Brandt_CrossBorderReport.docx
Chen_CrossBorderReport.docx

Please deliver your document in MS Word format so that it can be easily commented on and edited using track changes.

Assessment Criteria (3 points total)

Research Quality (1 point)

Accurate identification of specific regulations in both countries
Use of reliable government and official sources
Clear understanding of regulatory requirements

Analysis and Comparison (1 point)

Effective comparison of Mexican and U.S. regulations
Identification of key similarities and differences
Practical understanding of compliance implications

Professional Communication (1 point)

Clear, professional writing appropriate for business consulting
Well-organized report structure
Actionable recommendations that demonstrate understanding

📥 Download this Content

Find this file on our repo and download it.

🤖 GAI Study Prompts

Copy the downloaded content and try it with these prompts:

“Help me research [specific regulation] requirements in Mexico for [industry]”
“Compare regulatory requirements between Mexico and the US for [specific business activity]”
“What are the key compliance steps for a US company entering the Mexican [industry] market?”
“Help me write professional recommendations for regulatory compliance in a business consulting report”

Unit 2 Complete! Your ethical analysis skills will serve you throughout your professional career. Reflect on what you’ve achieved in the Unit 2 - Conclusion.