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.
Finland Joins ASF Secondary Control Zone: What Feed Importers Need to File Now
CFIA just added Finland to the African swine fever secondary control list and tightened plant-based feed ingredient permit requirements. If you import livestock feed or feed ingredients into Canada, your CBSA release process just got a new OGD checkpoint.
Read article →Non-Resident Importer Canada: Empty Backhaul Capacity and CBSA Compliance Costs
When backhaul capacity on ex-Asia routes sits mostly empty, Non-Resident Importers shipping into Canada face tighter CBSA scrutiny on undervalued freight, higher RPP bond requirements, and stricter CAD filing review. Here's what changed in CARM Phase 2.
Read article →What Mexican Apple Export Rules Tell You About Importing Fresh Produce Into Canada
Quebec apple exporters just learned what a single pest detection does to cross-border fresh produce movement. Canadian importers of berries, citrus, stone fruit and vegetables live this reality year-round. Here's what CFIA phytosanitary clearance actually costs you in time, cold storage, and rejected loads.
Read article →Shipping Broker Role When Suppliers Are Importer of Record: Who Gets the Duty Refund?
When your supplier acts as importer of record, duty refunds and drawback claims can get messy. A shipping broker working with CBSA's CARM system must clarify who paid, who files the CAD, and who ultimately captures the benefit when tariffs drop or origin claims change.
Read article →US Polysilicon Tariffs and the Electronics That Cross the Canadian Border
Trump's 15% polysilicon levy reshapes supplier documentation for Canadian importers of semiconductors and solar equipment that cross the Canadian border. CUSMA origin claims, HS classification, and CBSA verification timelines all shift when upstream input costs move.
Read article →Voluntary Disclosure: Your Safety Net When Peak Season Entries Go Wrong
Rush season shipping increases customs declaration errors. CBSA's voluntary disclosure program lets Canadian importers self-report mistakes before audit, potentially avoiding AMPS penalties that can reach thousands per entry.
Read article →Atlantic Freight Consolidation and OGD Permit Canada Coordination
Seaport Group's acquisition of Classic Freight Systems expands Atlantic Canada freight capacity, but the bigger question for importers: does your freight forwarder actually coordinate OGD permit Canada filings, or just move boxes? We break down what controlled-goods importers need from their broker and forwarder in 2026.
Read article →Canada Free Trade Agreement Defence: What $100B in US Tariff Refunds Teaches Importers
CBP has paid out over $100 billion in tariff refunds under IEEPA, but a DOJ appeal still blocks final liquidation. Canadian importers have a clearer path: properly claimed CUSMA and CETA origin locks in predictable duty rates and shields against the kind of tariff volatility driving US refund chaos.
Read article →CARM Client Portal Setup for Grain Importers: What Record Rail Volumes Expose
Record Canadian grain movement in 2025-26 is pushing first-time agricultural importers into CARM Client Portal setup, and many are misconfiguring their accounts. Bond sizing, HS classification authority, and CAD filing delegation are the three most common pain points we see this season.
Read article →Move to Canada from US: What the Supply Chain Crime Crackdown Means for New Importers
US businesses planning to move to Canada from US operations face a tightening compliance environment as Ottawa cracks down on organized crime, forced labour, and customs evasions in the freight sector. Here's what you need to know before your first CAD filing.
Read article →