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.
Vancouver customs broker requirements for Ontario distribution center imports
Lululemon's new Brampton DC highlights the import clearance path most Ontario retailers use: west coast entry, Vancouver customs processing, cross-country freight. Apparel HS classification and origin claims determine whether your Vancouver customs broker files a clean CAD or your container sits in CBSA exam for days.
Read article →Air-Ocean Integration and Your CAD Filing: What the FedEx-CMA CGM Deal Changes
When a major ocean carrier buys an air-freight contract logistics arm, Canadian importers face new multimodal documentation challenges. Here's what the FedEx-CMA CGM capacity agreement means for CBSA release workflows.
Read article →Can you get import duties back in Canada? CBSA refund rules, drawback windows, and what works
A US court ruling opened the door to billions in tariff refunds south of the border. Canadian importers have their own refund mechanisms — CBSA drawback claims, CAD corrections, and preferential tariff retroactivity — but the windows are tight and the paperwork matters. Here's what you need to know to recover overpaid duty.
Read article →CBSA Duty Adjustments: When Corrections Pay and When They Cost
Canadian importers can recover overpaid duties through CBSA's adjustment mechanisms, but the process demands clean documentation and tight deadlines. Most claims that fail do so because the initial CAD was rushed.
Read article →CBSA Licensed Broker: What the License Means and How to Verify It
CBSA licensed brokers hold formal authorization under Customs Act s.32 to file import entries on your behalf — unlicensed consultants cannot legally clear your goods.
Read article →CBSA Merges 9958 and 9959 D-Memos: What to Check Before the Consolidation Goes Live
CBSA is consolidating two long-standing D-memos on repairs-abroad and Canadian-origin returns into one document. If you file under 9958 or 9959, now's the time to flag any gaps before the new version becomes policy.
Read article →CFIA System Maintenance and the Perishables Penalty
CFIA's routine maintenance windows are usually harmless, but when they hit business hours or run long, perishable imports pay the price. What to pre-clear and when it matters.
Read article →Furniture Sets and Unassembled Pieces: D10-14-38 Gets a Rewrite
CBSA is consolidating two furniture classification D-memos into one. If you import flat-pack or sets, check whether your current HS codes align with the updated policy before your next CAD filing.
Read article →U.S. West Coast Volume Surge: What Canadian Importers Need to Know About Cross-Border CAD Filing
Port of Long Beach hit record June volumes despite trade uncertainty. For Canadian importers using U.S. transload routes, that means tighter CBSA scrutiny on cross-border CADs, stricter CUSMA origin documentation, and RPP bond recalculations you should run now.
Read article →When Your Broker Asks What the Furniture Is Made Of
A Brampton restaurant just paid $25,000 for importing rosewood pool tables without CITES permits. Most importers don't know their goods contain regulated species until CBSA flags them at examination. Here's how to clear wood, leather, and coral goods without the fine.
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