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.
U.S. Tariff Litigation and What Canadian Importers Should Watch in CARM Filing
U.S. court challenges to tariff policy are creating ripple effects for Canadian importers sourcing from the United States or routing through U.S. transhipment. Here's what to track when filing CADs and evaluating origin claims under CUSMA.
Read article →What a Carrier CEO Podcast Tells You About Your CAD Filing Window
Hapag-Lloyd launched a CEO podcast to talk ocean freight trends. For Canadian importers filing CADs under CARM, carrier schedule volatility means your release-prior-to-payment bond and PARS pre-arrival timeline need tighter coordination than the old B3 era allowed.
Read article →Canada-Indonesia CEPA Is Live: What's Actually on the Table for Your Tariff Stack
Bill C-18 passed May 6, implementing the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. We walk through what the agreement covers, where preferential duty claims make sense, and what your broker needs to file the origin declaration cleanly.
Read article →Cedar to Germany or Denmark? Heat-Treatment Certificates Won't Clear It
Germany and Denmark reject industry-issued heat-treatment certificates for Thuja spp. wood, demanding full phytosanitary certificates instead. The derogation split means your cedar shipment needs different paperwork depending on the EU member state, and most Canadian exporters don't find out until the container sits at Hamburg.
Read article →New CITT Vice-Chair and Member Appointments: What Changes for Importers Filing SIMA Appeals
Eric Wildhaber joins the Canadian International Trade Tribunal as Vice-Chair alongside three new members. For importers caught in SIMA appeals, procurement reviews, or safeguard cases, these appointments shift the bench hearing your arguments.
Read article →Serial No. 1162: GAC Import Permits Now Mandatory for Chinese EVs — What Changes at the CAD Stage
Global Affairs Canada added Chinese EVs to the Import Control List effective March 1, 2026. Shipment-specific permits are now required before you can file a compliant CAD, and quota-based allocation means late applications may hit a closed window.
Read article →UK CPTPP Accession Is Live — What Changes for Canadian Importers and NRI Registration
Parliament passed Bill C-13 on May 6, adding the UK to CPTPP. UK goods now qualify for tariff preference on the same terms as Japan, Australia, and the rest of the bloc. Here's what that means for CAD origin claims, NRI registration, and certificate-of-origin timelines.
Read article →U.S.-EU tariff deadline shifts duty math for Canadian importers routing through Europe
Trump's July 4 deadline for the EU tariff deal changes cost calculus for Canadian importers sourcing from or routing goods through European suppliers. Origin claims, CUSMA triangulation, and HS classification all come back into play when U.S. rates move and trade shifts north.
Read article →CBSA Portal Message Delays: What Four-Hour Outbound Lag Actually Costs You
CBSA outbound EDI and eManifest messages are running two to four hours behind as of May 7. Inbound data is processing normally, but late responses mean cargo release confirmations, exam dispositions, and payment receipts arrive too late to meet carrier pickup windows or next-shift dock schedules.
Read article →Chief Mountain Opens Mid-May: What Importers Using Secondary Alberta Crossings Need to Know
Chief Mountain port of entry reopens May 15 through September 30. If you're moving commercial freight through secondary Alberta crossings, here's what seasonal hours, ACE/ACI filing, and limited infrastructure mean for your PARS releases and cross-border timing.
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