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.
China carrier rate fines and what they mean for Canadian import pricing
China's Ministry of Transport is fining major container lines for freight rate filing violations. For Canadian importers, the ripple effect shows up in contract amendment clauses, mid-voyage surcharge disputes, and CARM CAD pricing reconciliation. We break down how to protect your duty base and landed cost when carrier pricing shifts mid-contract.
Read article →Container spot rates climb mid-2025, but cross-border customs cost is what sticks
Transpacific container spot rates posted double-digit jumps this week, but Canadian importers filing CADs against FAK rates plus peak-season surcharges should watch the duty math more closely than the freight invoice.
Read article →Due Diligence in Broker Selection: What Canadian Importers Should Verify Before Signing
Choosing a customs broker is more than comparing per-entry fees. Canadian importers face real liability when a broker files incorrect CADs, misses CUSMA origin claims, or posts inadequate RPP bonds. Here's what to verify during onboarding.
Read article →LNG-fuelled containerships and Canadian customs: what fifteen thousand TEU means for your CAD workload
Ocean Network Express has ordered six 15,900 TEU LNG dual-fuel newbuilds. Larger vessels mean more PARS transmissions, tighter release windows, and heavier RPP bond exposure when containers arrive in Montreal and Vancouver. Here's what the shift to ultra-large feeder tonnage does to your CBSA filing cadence.
Read article →Canadian customs brokerage consolidation: what smaller shops risk when market pressure builds
U.S. brokerage exits are pushing freight volume toward larger 3PLs. For Canadian importers, broker consolidation changes who holds your CAD filing history, RPP bond capacity, and CBSA relationship. Know what to ask before your shop folds or sells.
Read article →CBSA Confirms Five-Year Extension on Oil Country Tubular Goods AD/CVD — Filing Notes for Importers
CBSA's OCTG expiry review closes with continued anti-dumping and countervailing duties on pipe from nine territories. If you import drill pipe, casing, or tubing for oil and gas projects, nothing changes on the tariff side, but the CAD coding and proof-of-origin requirements still trip up brokers who don't file SIMA goods daily.
Read article →CBSA Maintenance Window May 15 — One Hour, No Planned Outage, but Have Your SOCP Ready
CBSA is running system maintenance Friday, May 15, 2026, 13:00–14:00 ET. No planned outage, but the SOCP applies if anything drops. Here's what to prep, what to watch, and when to hold filings.
Read article →CFIA AIRS and AVS Maintenance May 24: What Breaks When the System Goes Dark
CFIA's Automated Import Reference System and AIRS Verification Service will be offline May 24, 2026, from 03:00 to 07:00 ET. That's the four-hour window when most brokers file overnight PARS releases for morning delivery. Here's what stops working and how to route around it.
Read article →Edmonton International Airport cargo hub expansion: what Canadian importers need to know about CBSA clearance capacity
The new International Cargo Hub at Edmonton International Airport will add air cargo capacity, but the CBSA clearance side, CARM portal strain, and sufferance warehouse availability will determine whether your shipments actually move faster through YEG.
Read article →EICS Steel Permit Queue Display Change: What the May 2026 Rejection Notice Actually Means
Global Affairs is changing how FCFS steel permit applications appear in the New EICS interface on May 19, 2026. Applications will stay in the queue but vanish from the suspended-applications view, and you'll receive an auto-rejection notice that doesn't actually reject your application. Here's how to interpret the notice and what your client needs to know before filing the CAD.
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