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.
Down and feather imports: when China's testing requirements change mid-program
CFIA just amended the export certificate for Canadian down heading to China, dropping one test and making another routine. That's an export story, but Canadian importers moving down products the opposite direction need to track these changes—certificate drift between what your supplier certifies and what CFIA expects at the border is the difference between release and exam hold.
Read article →EU BPA Ban in Food Packaging: What Canadian Exporters Need to File
The EU's new regulation banning bisphenol A in food contact materials took effect July 20, 2026. If you're exporting packaged food or packaging materials to the EU market, your CAD commodity description and supplier certifications just became compliance checkpoints.
Read article →Section 338 Tariffs Override CUSMA: What Your Canadian Import Broker Files Now
US Section 338 duties impose 50% tariffs on Canadian imports even when goods qualify for CUSMA duty-free treatment. Canadian import brokers now file CADs with both the preferential-origin claim and the Section 338 assessment, document the override, and advise clients on classification challenges and alternative sourcing.
Read article →U.S. Aluminum Tariff Relief Through 2029: What a Custom Broker Near Me Should Tell You
The White House is offering to halve aluminum tariffs for firms that expand U.S. production capacity by January 2029. Canadian importers bringing in aluminum products under CUSMA or MFN terms need to understand how this program affects duty calculations, origin claims, and CAD filing strategy for the next four years.
Read article →Why your licensed customs broker is reading transpacific spot rates right now
Transpacific volume surges driven by tariff uncertainty don't stop at the US border. Canadian importers sourcing from China are filing CADs weeks ahead of normal schedules, and your licensed customs broker needs to know your Q4 volume plans now to size RPP bonds and CARM payment windows correctly.
Read article →Canada Import Tax Rate: How CUSMA Origin, MFN Duty, and HS Classification Shape Your Landed Cost
Your Canada import tax rate depends on three factors: CUSMA preferential origin claims, the MFN (Most-Favoured-Nation) baseline, and precise HS 6-digit classification. With US-Mexico cross-border trade hitting $87 billion in May 2025, Canadian importers sourcing from Mexico must understand when CUSMA Article 202 preferential rates apply and when they revert to MFN.
Read article →CBSA extends SIMA duties on Chinese solar modules: what importers need to know
The CBSA completed an expiry review and decided to keep anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese photovoltaic modules and laminates in place. Here's what that means for Canadian importers sourcing solar equipment, and when CUSMA or CETA alternatives make sense.
Read article →CITT Extends Steel Duties: Check Your HS Code Before Your Next CAD
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal just extended anti-dumping and countervailing duties on corrosion-resistant steel from Türkiye and Vietnam for another five years. If you're importing under HS 7210 or 7212, your CAD filing needs the right declarations — or expect a re-determination months later.
Read article →SIMA Administrative Review for Fasteners: Two Supplier Margins Just Changed
CBSA updated normal values for carbon steel fasteners from two exporters in China and Chinese Taipei. If you import from Pinghu Gete or Sheh Fung, your anti-dumping deposit math just changed.
Read article →What Your Broker's Professional Development Actually Tells You About Compliance Risk
A Winnipeg brokerage's CSCB membership application highlights why structured continuing education matters more than ever in the CARM era, and what importers should ask when evaluating broker partners.
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