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.
Why U.S. Broker Liability Cases Don't Cross the Border (And What That Means for Canadian Importers)
The Montgomery SCOTUS case has U.S. brokers watching carrier liability rules closely. In Canada, the liability framework under the Customs Act is different—brokers file CADs on behalf of importers, but importers remain the party at risk for mis-classification, origin, and valuation. Here's how the two systems diverge and what Canadian compliance teams should care about.
Read article →CBSA EDI and eManifest Portal Delays: What Eight-Hour Outbound Lag Actually Means for Your Release Window
CBSA's Update 13 shows inbound EDI delays of one to three hours and outbound acknowledgements delayed six to eight hours. For brokers filing CADs under tight RPP windows or chasing RNS notices, that gap isn't noise—it's a forced waiting game that hits Friday afternoon filings and perishable releases hardest.
Read article →CBSA Outbound Message Delays: What the 1–3 Hour Lag Actually Costs You
CBSA's multi-day outbound messaging delay is still running. Here's what gets held up, what doesn't, and where the real cost lands if your release workflow depends on real-time electronic confirmements.
Read article →D10-15-29 update: why handbag classification still trips up CAD filers
CBSA just revised D10-15-29 for tariff classification of handbags, backpacks, and travelling bags under heading 42.02. The update clarifies outer surface material tests and typical use criteria that routinely sink misclassified CADs.
Read article →D23-1-1 Update: What Changed in the PIP Application Process and Why It Matters
CBSA revised D23-1-1 on April 28. The changes are mostly clarifications around documentation requirements and security profile updates, but the timing matters if you're planning a PIP application this quarter or managing FAST eligibility for your driver pool.
Read article →Port Houston Q1 surge and what it means for Canadian steel importers filing under CARM
Port Houston cleared 1M TEU in Q1 2024, with grain and energy cargo up but steel imports down. For Canadian importers buying U.S. steel or grain that transited Houston, the shift affects CUSMA origin claims, HS classification under SIMA, and RPP bond sizing when filing CADs through the CARM Client Portal.
Read article →Portal Messages Still Backing Up After CBSA EDI Outage
The CBSA's eManifest and EDI portal went down April 25. Eleven days later, transmissions are accepted but outbound messages are still delayed, the Systems Outage Contingency Plan remains open, and paper entries are still legal. Here's what that means for CAD filing and cargo release.
Read article →What OEM duty refunds mean for Canadian automotive importers filing CADs in 2025
Large automakers are claiming hundreds of millions in tariff refunds while still paying billions. Canadian importers of automotive parts need to understand how Section 232, CUSMA origin, and CBSA verification all stack up when filing Commercial Accounting Declarations under CARM.
Read article →Why your broker's inbox is now the weakest link in CBSA clearance
Phishing attacks targeting freight forwarders and customs brokers are no longer theoretical. When attackers impersonate shippers or CBSA, they can redirect shipments, alter CAD filings, or compromise CARM Client Portal credentials before your goods even hit the port.
Read article →CBSA Launches Dumping and Subsidy Investigations on Chinese Non-Structural Plywood (DONP2 2026)
CBSA initiated SIMA investigations on April 10, 2026, targeting decorative and other non-structural plywood from China. If you import these goods or file CADs on them, here's what the next nine months look like and how provisional duties will hit your cash flow.
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