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.
Duty drawback and refund mechanisms for Canadian importers: what Deere's $272M claim tells us
Deere's quarter-billion-dollar tariff refund highlights duty drawback and mitigation tools Canadian importers rarely use. We break down the CBSA refund mechanisms, CUSMA drawback rules, and where most importers leave money on the table.
Read article →US Executive Order on Customs Enforcement: What Canadian Importers Need to Watch
US CBP's new enforcement push on importer-of-record compliance and duty evasion may look like a domestic issue, but Canadian brokers are already seeing upstream ripple effects in CBSA verification, SIMA referrals, and NRI penalty exposure.
Read article →When transpacific spot rates swing, your CAD filings don't wait
Transpacific ocean rates spiked after Hormuz closed, then collapsed again within two weeks. Canadian importers watching contract renegotiations still face the same CBSA CAD deadlines, the same CUSMA origin verification windows, and the same duty liability whether the box cost $4,000 or $7,000 to move.
Read article →CBSA Rewrites D11-4-5: What Changed for CCCT Origin Claims
CBSA published a revised D-memo for Commonwealth Caribbean Countries tariff treatment. The update clarifies shipping rules and proof-of-origin thresholds — both matter if you're filing CADs under CCCT preference.
Read article →CFIA AIRS Chapter 31 Update: Two New HS Codes Now Require Fertilizer/Supplement Registration
CFIA published Chapter 31 updates adding registration requirements for seaweed-based fertilizer (3101.00.4040) and insect frass (3101.00.5020). If you're clearing either product, your CAD now needs a valid AIRS registration number or the shipment holds at primary.
Read article →CSCB Designate Quiz 2 of 2026 Is Live – Why You File It, and What It Covers This Quarter
The second quarterly designate quiz is open for CCS and CTCS holders. We walk through the credit math, what typically shows up in these, and why the topics usually reflect CBSA operational changes already affecting your files.
Read article →CUSMA Joint Review Kicked Off This Week — What Import Managers Actually Need to Watch
The Advisory Committee on Canada–U.S. Economic Relations met this week ahead of the CUSMA joint review. For import managers filing CADs under CUSMA preference, three live issues matter right now: Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs still sitting on Canadian goods, proposed Section 301 tariffs out of Washington, and the six-year review itself. Here's what changed and what didn't.
Read article →How U.S. Labor-Based Tariffs Reshape Canadian Import Duty Calculations and CUSMA Origin Claims
When the United States proposes Section 301 labor tariffs on sixty trading partners, Canadian importers face ripple effects on CUSMA origin certification, HS classification strategy, and CARM duty accounting. Here's what to watch when your inputs cross three borders.
Read article →Steel TRQ Extension to June 2026: What Changes for Your Import Permit Filing
Canada's steel tariff-rate quota regime for non-CUSMA imports has been extended another year. The permit window opens June 13, 2026 at 00:01 ET for goods entering June 28 and later. If you import subject steel, here's what the one-year rollover means for your CAD filing and permit timing.
Read article →What matters in clearance software: CBSA connectivity, not marketing promises
Descartes posted record revenue as importers lean harder on customs-clearance platforms. From a Canadian broker's desk, what actually matters in a platform is CBSA EDI integration, accurate HS libraries, and whether your RPP bond is sized correctly—not the vendor's quarterly earnings.
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