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.
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.
Read article →U.S. Steel and Aluminum Tariff Adjustment: What Canadian Producers and Importers Need to Know for CAD Filing
The U.S. Commerce Department's proposed 25% tariff reduction for steel and aluminum producers commits to domestic manufacturing. Canadian brokers filing CADs need to track origin rules, CUSMA preference claims, and duty implications when routing metal shipments through U.S. supply chains or re-importing processed goods.
Read article →Four Falls NB Port of Entry Closes Permanently — What It Means for Routing and Cargo Control
CBSA closed the seasonal Four Falls, NB port of entry permanently this month. For carriers and brokers running freight through northwestern New Brunswick, the change shifts cargo control documentation, eManifest highway workflow, and driver instructions to Andover (24/7) or Gillespie Portage (7 am–7 pm). Here's what actually changes on the filing side.
Read article →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.
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