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.
Costa Rica joins CPTPP: what Canadian importers need to know about origin and CAD filing
Costa Rica's accession to CPTPP opens a new tariff preference route for Canadian importers. We walk through HS classification, CUSMA vs CPTPP origin strategy, and Commercial Accounting Declaration filing under CARM for goods sourced from the newest member state.
Read article →Edmonton Airport Cargo Hub Build-Out and What It Means for Western-Canada CAD Filings
Transport Canada broke ground on Edmonton International's new cargo hub. For brokers filing CADs on westbound Pacific freight, this changes OGD coordination, exam site capacity, and PARS release timelines starting late 2025.
Read article →Federal project-approval timelines won't fix CBSA release bottlenecks
Ottawa's proposed one-year regulatory approval cap for major projects misses the real customs clearance pinch points: CBSA verification cycles, NRI documentation gaps, and CARM portal workflow breaks that routinely extend release windows by days or weeks.
Read article →What CBSA enforcement at the border means for Canadian import clearance
CBSA truck inspections, driver security screening, and cargo control documentation catch far more than broken lights. Here's what Canadian customs brokers watch for when enforcement tightens at land borders.
Read article →Arctic Shipping Electronic Commercial Clearance Pilot: What It Means for July 2026 Inbound Cargo
CBSA's ASECC pilot starts July 1, 2026, allowing pre-approved carriers to clear Arctic conveyances and cargo electronically. If you move northbound goods or supply northern communities year-round, the application window and eManifest exemptions matter now.
Read article →CBSA Portal Lag: What 1-3 Hour Outbound Delays Mean for Your Release Workflow
CBSA's EDI and eManifest portal has been running 1-3 hours slow on outbound messages since April 25. Inbound is fine, but acknowledgements, rejects, and release notifications are delayed. Here's what it changes for PARS, RMD, and CAD filing timing.
Read article →CFIA NISC Processing Delays: What Import Managers Need to Know
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Import Service Centre is running slow on import declarations. Here's what matters for your food, plant, and animal shipments—and what won't help.
Read article →EU Phytosanitary Rules for Oak and Chestnut: What Canadian Exporters Need to File Before October 15, 2026
The EU published final phytosanitary requirements for oak and chestnut wood originating in Canada, effective October 15, 2026. If you export lumber, logs, or finished wood goods to EU member states, your certification workflow just changed.
Read article →Little Gold Creek Opens May 15 — What the Seasonal Port Means for Northern Routing and Compliance
CBSA opens Little Gold Creek May 15 through September 15, 2026. Commercial routing through seasonal Yukon ports brings eManifest timing traps, ACE-to-ACI handoff risk, and hours-of-service math that breaks the normal Lower 48 playbook.
Read article →UPS and FedEx International Fuel Surcharges: What Canadian Importers Need to Know
UPS and FedEx have raised international fuel surcharges and added surge fees across express lanes. Canadian importers using bonded couriers for PARS clearance and release prior to payment now face margin pressure on the freight side, even when duty math stays flat.
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