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.
MERV 2025 model year end-of-year reports are due April 30 — three filing traps to watch
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Marine Spark-Ignition Engine, Vessel and Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission Regulations (MERV) require 2025 model year end-of-year reports by April 30. Most importers of outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, and ATVs miss the controlled-product flag until the deadline has passed.
Read article →U.S. tariff ruling blocked by trade court: what Canadian importers need to watch
A U.S. federal trade court has struck down Trump's 10 per cent across-the-board tariff. Canadian importers with cross-border supply chains should track two immediate issues: CUSMA verification workload and duty-remission timing for goods already released under RPP bonds.
Read article →U.S.–Mexico border traffic patterns and Canadian import routing: what Eagle Pass tells us about CUSMA origin planning
Port of Eagle Pass annual summit highlights U.S.–Mexico trucking volumes and CUSMA regional value content rules. Canadian importers routing goods through the U.S. or importing Mexican-origin products need to plan origin verification, CAD filing procedures, and RPP bond capacity now.
Read article →When Your Forwarder's Credit Line Tightens: What Canadian Importers Need to Know
Freight forwarder financial stress can disrupt cargo release, especially under CARM Phase 2. Licensed brokers explain how RPP bond structures, CAD filing deadlines, and importer-of-record accountability protect your clearance when carriers stumble.
Read article →Transpacific spot rates climb again, but container availability stays uneven for Canadian importers
Spot ocean rates out of Asia ticked up this week after three weeks of declines into Europe, but carriers are blanking sailings through March. Canadian importers need to watch container allocation, CAD filing timelines, and RPP bond exposure when freight pricing and schedule reliability diverge.
Read article →U.S. Tariff Litigation and What Canadian Importers Should Watch in CARM Filing
U.S. court challenges to tariff policy are creating ripple effects for Canadian importers sourcing from the United States or routing through U.S. transhipment. Here's what to track when filing CADs and evaluating origin claims under CUSMA.
Read article →What a Carrier CEO Podcast Tells You About Your CAD Filing Window
Hapag-Lloyd launched a CEO podcast to talk ocean freight trends. For Canadian importers filing CADs under CARM, carrier schedule volatility means your release-prior-to-payment bond and PARS pre-arrival timeline need tighter coordination than the old B3 era allowed.
Read article →Canada-Indonesia CEPA Is Live: What's Actually on the Table for Your Tariff Stack
Bill C-18 passed May 6, implementing the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. We walk through what the agreement covers, where preferential duty claims make sense, and what your broker needs to file the origin declaration cleanly.
Read article →Cedar to Germany or Denmark? Heat-Treatment Certificates Won't Clear It
Germany and Denmark reject industry-issued heat-treatment certificates for Thuja spp. wood, demanding full phytosanitary certificates instead. The derogation split means your cedar shipment needs different paperwork depending on the EU member state, and most Canadian exporters don't find out until the container sits at Hamburg.
Read article →New CITT Vice-Chair and Member Appointments: What Changes for Importers Filing SIMA Appeals
Eric Wildhaber joins the Canadian International Trade Tribunal as Vice-Chair alongside three new members. For importers caught in SIMA appeals, procurement reviews, or safeguard cases, these appointments shift the bench hearing your arguments.
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