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.
Ford's $1.3B tariff refund claim and what it means for Canadian automotive importers
Ford expects a refund of $1.3 billion in duties paid under Section 301 and Section 232. For Canadian importers sourcing auto parts and assemblies, this signals ongoing CBSA verification pressure, CUSMA origin scrutiny, and bond sizing volatility heading into 2026.
Read article →Ottawa's $1.5B Tariff-Relief Fund: What Import-Heavy Sectors Need to Know Before Filing
BDC and regional development agencies just opened $1.5 billion in credit and support for tariffed industries. Here's what steel, aluminum, auto parts, and ag importers should watch before assuming a loan fixes your SIMA exposure or release-hold pattern.
Read article →Supply Chains Act Reporting Deadline: May 31 and What Canadian Importers Actually Need to File
Public Safety Canada's annual Supply Chains Act reporting deadline is May 31. If your entity imported goods produced in whole or in part by forced labour, here's what the filing obligation looks like, who it captures, and how it intersects with CBSA declarations.
Read article →UP–NS Merger and Canadian Intermodal Clearance: What Importers Should Watch
Union Pacific's proposed Norfolk Southern acquisition may redraw U.S. Class I routing and handoff schedules at the border, changing PARS availability, interline dwell, and release-prior-to-payment workflows for Canadian importers moving containers through Chicago and Detroit gateways.
Read article →El Paso Nearshoring Build and the Mexican CUSMA Inputs Entering Canada
A new 800,000-square-foot industrial facility in El Paso highlights nearshoring momentum along the U.S.–Mexico border. For Canadian importers sourcing from Mexico or receiving U.S. assemblies with Mexican inputs, CUSMA origin claims and HS classification matter more than ever.
Read article →Gulf airspace closures and what they mean for Canadian import timelines
Middle East routing disruptions push Asia-origin freight onto slower lanes. Canadian importers filing CADs under CARM need to adjust lead times, manage RPP bond exposure, and watch for carrier-imposed surcharges when Gulf hubs go offline.
Read article →Section 232 tariff expansion: what Canadian importers should file under CARM
U.S. Section 232 tariffs now apply to more metals and downstream products. Canadian importers need to review CUSMA origin claims, HS classification, and CAD filing practices to avoid CBSA verification delays and AMPS penalties.
Read article →Trucking layoffs and what they mean for Canadian customs clearance capacity
Transport truck driver employment in Canada fell 7.3% year-over-year in March 2025, per Trucking HR Canada. For importers, that means fewer drivers at ports and sufferance warehouses, longer dwell times, and risk of detention charges if your broker can't secure release-ready CAD filings before arrival.
Read article →U.S. 25% Auto Tariff on EU Vehicles: What Canadian Importers Need to Know
The U.S. president announced a 25% tariff on EU cars and trucks starting next week. Canadian importers with North American distribution networks need to understand HS classification, CUSMA origin verification, and how the new levy reshapes supply chains routing through Canadian ports.
Read article →April price increases and Canadian import duty exposure: what the ISM numbers mean for your CAD filings
U.S. manufacturing price pressures reported in the April ISM survey translate directly to higher Canadian duty exposure and CUSMA origin risk for mid-market importers. If you're claiming CUSMA preference on goods with U.S.-origin inputs, raw-material cost inflation and supplier substitution can push you out of compliance faster than your compliance calendar expects.
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