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.
Asia Pacific Freight Capacity Growth and Canadian Import Timing
Expanded road freight networks in Southeast Asia can shorten lead times for Canadian importers, but HS classification, CUSMA origin verification, and CARM Client Portal filing windows matter more than cross-border trucking speed when you're filing CADs through Vancouver or Montreal.
Read article →CBP Section 301 refunds hit $85 billion — what Canadian importers need to know about U.S. duty drawback and CBSA reassessment risk
CBP has certified $85 billion in Section 301 tariff refunds through its dedicated portal, with $20.6 billion already paid out. Canadian importers who claimed CUSMA preference on goods originally imported into the U.S. under exclusions now face CBSA verification and potential reassessment if those exclusions were later revoked. We walk through the CARM-era CAD correction process, origin declaration mechanics, and when drawback claims trigger upstream compliance reviews.
Read article →EU-Mexico FTA Signed: What It Means for Canadian Importers Sourcing Through Mexico
The new EU-Mexico free-trade agreement may shift sourcing patterns for Canadian importers. We walk through CUSMA origin tracing, SIMA risk for Mexican transshipments, and how CAD filings handle split-origin supply chains.
Read article →HS classification for AI servers, GPUs, and hyperscale hardware: what Canadian importers need on the CAD
AI infrastructure imports—servers, GPUs, and cooling gear—are hitting Canadian customs in volume. Tariff classification, CUSMA origin, and CARM documentation for hyperscale hardware demand specific HS handling. Here's what works on the CAD.
Read article →EU–U.S. tariff deal: what Canadian importers sourcing through Europe need to watch
The EU Parliament backed a conditional tariff-cut agreement with the United States that includes unilateral suspension clauses. Canadian importers sourcing industrial goods via European suppliers should review HS classification, CUSMA origin eligibility, and transshipment risk before assuming stable duty treatment on North American-bound cargo.
Read article →HS Classification and Duty Treatment for Repurposed EV Batteries Imported into Canada
Moment Energy's Vancouver battery repurposing facility will import end-of-life EV cells for remanufacture. Canadian importers bringing similar goods face HS classification questions, potential SIMA triggers, and CUSMA origin complications when the input material crosses borders multiple times.
Read article →Ashley Furniture Administrative Review (UDS 2025 UP1): Circumvention Findings and What They Mean for Your SIMA Declarations
CBSA has concluded an administrative review finding that Ashley Furniture exported Chinese and Vietnamese upholstered domestic seating through the United States in circumvention of existing SIMA measures. Importers filing CADs on subject goods need to know what changes, what stays the same, and how to avoid AMPS exposure.
Read article →CBSA Preliminary Dumping and Subsidy Findings on Forged Grinding Media from China — What Changes at the Border May 25
CBSA issued preliminary dumping and subsidy determinations on Chinese forged grinding media under SIMA. If you import steel balls or similar wear parts under 7326.11, expect provisional duty collection, compliance holds, and stricter origin documentation starting today.
Read article →CBSA Revised the DERO List for Export Reporting — Here's What Changed and Why It Matters
CBSA updated the Designated Export Reporting Office list in CERS and G7-EDI to align with the Directory of Offices. The change affects which office you report exports to — and where mis-routed declarations end up stuck.
Read article →CUSMA Chapter 10 Panel Reviews Live in the Gazette — Oil Country Tubular Goods from the U.S. and Mexico
Two CUSMA panel reviews on oil country tubular goods appeared in the Canada Gazette this week. For importers filing drawback, claiming origin, or managing anti-dumping bonds on OCTG, the timing matters — especially if you've been waiting on final determination language to close a drawback claim or restructure your bond.
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