Field notes from the Canadian border.
Practical playbooks and case studies from our brokers. No thought-leadership fluff — just the stuff we wish every importer knew before they called us in a panic.
AIRS Updates Hit Chapter 01 and 07: What Changed for Live Animals and Onions
CFIA updated AIRS Chapters 01 and 07 on July 28, modifying import conditions for live animals and fresh onions from the US — changes that affect CAD filings and OGD clearance timing.
Read article →CARM Portal Transaction Details Back Online: Rerun Your Month-End Downloads
CARM Client Portal's transaction list was missing description fields for weeks, breaking month-end reconciliation for importers tracking duties and RPP bond charges. CBSA says the bug is fixed. If you closed April or May books already, rerun your financial history downloads and check whether your accruals actually matched what posted.
Read article →CBSA CARM Client Portal: Release Prior to Payment and Financial Security Under the New System
CBSA CARM replaced the old B3 system with CADs, RPP bonds, and portal-based accounting. Here's what changed for Canadian importers and how to file correctly.
Read article →CN's Q2 Growth Signals Sustained Canada and US Border Crossing Volume Through 2026
Canadian National Railway raised its full-year 2026 guidance after a strong second quarter, pointing to sustained growth in Canada and US border crossing freight volumes. For importers, higher rail throughput translates to heavier CBSA workload, longer CAD filing queues, and tighter capacity planning at cross-border terminals.
Read article →Emergency Fuel Surcharges and HS Tariff Classification Number Lookup Canada: Why Accurate Classification Matters More When Freight Costs Spike
When container lines impose emergency fuel surcharges, Canadian importers face higher landed costs. Getting your HS tariff classification number lookup right becomes critical because duty percentages now apply to a larger base, and misclassification costs multiply fast.
Read article →Freight Forwarder Company: What Canadian Importers Need to Know Before You Sign
A freight forwarder company handles ocean/air consolidation, customs clearance, and last-mile for Canadian importers. Here's what to verify before you commit.
Read article →HTS Code Canada: Why Your Tariff Classification Determines Duty Under CETA and CUSMA
Canadian importers searching for 'HTS code Canada' are really asking how to classify goods under the Harmonized System for accurate duty calculation. Misclassify a Latin American or European import and you either overpay duty or trigger a CBSA verification that costs weeks and potential AMPS penalties.
Read article →HTS Number Errors and Carrier Liability: What Canadian Brokers Need to Know
A recent US court verdict on freight broker liability highlights growing risk for Canadian customs brokers when HTS number misclassification meets carrier vetting gaps. If your trucking partner delivers bonded freight with incorrect HS codes on the CAD, CBSA verification can trigger AMPS penalties that land on both the importer and the broker of record.
Read article →Port Code 0455 Went Live Before CFIA's System Caught Up
The new Gordie Howe International Bridge opened with port code 0455 on July 27, but CFIA's validation tables didn't sync in time—brokers filing CADs for regulated goods hit automatic rejects until the fix landed hours later.
Read article →What BC Blueberry Exports Tell You About CFIA Import Clearance
The new Philippines market access for BC blueberries shows exactly what CFIA phytosanitary certification looks like on the export side. Flip that around and you're looking at the same OGD gatekeeping your fresh produce imports face at CBSA primary.
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