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.
Canadian HS Code Search: Why Accurate Classification Matters Before Your CAD Hits CBSA
Accurate Canadian HS code search is the first line of defense against CBSA exams, duty overpayments, and AMPS penalties. Learn how to classify goods properly, where to search the Customs Tariff, and what happens when you get it wrong.
Read article →Canada HTS Code Lookup: How to Classify Imports Without CBSA Pushback
Misclassified imports trigger CBSA verification, AMPS penalties, and delayed release. This guide covers how to look up Canada HTS codes correctly, which D-memoranda matter, and when a six-digit HS classification assumption breaks down at the border.
Read article →Tariff Codes Canada: Why Mexico Nearshoring Makes HS Classification Your First Line of Duty Defence
As nearshoring pulls production from Asia to Mexico, Canadian importers face new tariff code compliance risks under CUSMA. Misclassified HS codes cost you preferential treatment and trigger duty assessments. Here's how to get tariff codes Canada-compliant from day one when sourcing from Mexico.
Read article →Canada Post Weekend Delivery: How A & A Customs Brokers and Other Canadian Firms Handle Off-Hours CBSA Clearance
Canada Post's move to weekend parcel delivery by year-end expands ecommerce clearance windows, but CBSA doesn't rest on Saturdays either. When evaluating a & a customs brokers or any Canadian brokerage, ask whether they staff PARS release and CAD filing outside 9-to-5, because your competitors already do.
Read article →Asia-Canada Spot Rate Swings and the Customs Broker Question: Beyond A and A Custom Brokers
When transpacific spot rates fluctuate, Canadian importers often re-evaluate port routing and customs broker partnerships. Searches for firms like A and A Custom Brokers spike during volatility. Here's what matters more than the name on the door: CARM Client Portal access, RPP bond sizing, and CBSA CAD filing discipline.
Read article →Customs Broker Rates vs. Freight Volatility: What Canadian Importers Actually Pay
Ocean freight rates spiking 6% week-over-week in Asia might seem distant, but Canadian importers filing CADs under CARM need to understand how freight volatility affects total landed cost while customs broker rates stay stable. Here's what changes and what doesn't when freight costs surge.
Read article →CBSA Exam Flags and Customs Broker Fees: What Commercial Importers Pay When Cargo Gets Pulled
A recent 385-kilo cocaine seizure at a Canadian commercial crossing highlights CBSA's active inspection regime. For legitimate importers, exam flags mean extended timelines and layered customs broker fees beyond the standard single-entry charge. Here's the cost breakdown under CARM and how to keep your clearance file off the exam list.
Read article →Canadian Freight Forwarders Navigate Tariff Uncertainty as Importers Rethink US Supply Chains
Tariff tensions are pushing Canadian importers to reconsider supply chain routing. Freight forwarders are fielding questions about switching from US intermediaries to direct overseas sourcing, which changes CBSA clearance procedures, origin claims, and RPP bond requirements under CARM.
Read article →Customs Broker Cost in Canada: What You're Paying For
Canadian customs broker cost ranges from CAD 75 to CAD 250 per entry for most mid-market importers, but the real number depends on complexity and volume.
Read article →Move from Canada to US: The Export Filing Gaps That Trip Up New Cross-Border Shippers
Descartes' acquisition of Tai highlights how freight tech is consolidating, but Canadian exporters moving goods from Canada to US still stumble on basic AES and export permit requirements. Here's what CBSA and US Customs both expect before your first southbound load clears.
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