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.
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.
Read article →Why Canadian customs brokers carry employer liability risk in 2025
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on third-party negligent hiring creates ripple effects north of the border. Canadian customs brokers face elevated scrutiny over subcontractor vetting, CAD filing authority, and NRI representation under CBSA audits and AMPS enforcement.
Read article →Steel, Aluminum, Copper Tariff Changes and Canadian Import Classification
Recent U.S. tariff adjustments on steel, aluminum, and copper create new classification and valuation questions for Canadian importers filing CADs under CARM. Here's what brokers are watching on HS code splits, CUSMA origin interplay, and transaction-value recalculation when equipment crosses from the U.S. with embedded metal content.
Read article →U.S. Section 301 tariff proposal on Brazil goods: Canadian importers with triangular supply chains should check CUSMA origin now
USTR's proposed 25% tariff on Brazilian imports triggers origin declaration questions for Canadian importers who source inputs from Brazil or handle U.S.-bound goods with Brazilian components. CBSA expects every CAD that claims CUSMA origin to back it up under verification.
Read article →U.S.–Brazil tariff uncertainty and Canadian import exposure
U.S. tariff threats on Brazilian goods create re-routing risk for Canadian importers. HS classification, CUSMA origin, and CARM-era CAD filings need tighter review when supply chains flex north.
Read article →What the Open Road-Double Stack deal signals for Canadian cross-border intermodal clearance
Open Road Ventures' acquisition of Double-Stack Logistics highlights consolidation in U.S. intermodal brokerage. For Canadian importers relying on cross-border rail, the ripple is practical: tighter partner networks, shifting PARS service tiers, and more pressure on RPP bond accuracy when U.S. intermodal volumes push into Montreal and Toronto terminals.
Read article →Canada Post ratifies contracts: what the end of strike disruption means for CBSA clearance and last-mile duty payment
With Canada Post's strike over, importers can expect smoother delivery of CBSA assessment notices, certificates of origin, and CARM monthly statements. Here's what changed during the disruption and what to watch as service resumes.
Read article →CARM Client Portal registration down: what the SOCP actually means for Monday morning CADs
CBSA's CARM Client Portal registration and enrollment module went offline Sunday morning. For brokers already enrolled, it's noise. For importers mid-onboarding or trying to activate a new BN15, it's a hard stop until the system comes back.
Read article →CBSA Portal Delays: What UPDATE 60 Means for Your Filing Window
CBSA's EDI and eManifest portal is technically live, but residual message delays are real enough that the Systems Outage Contingency Plan stays open. Here's what that means for CAD filing timelines, paper fallback, and release-prior-to-payment timing this week.
Read article →CBSA Portal Message Delays: What Actually Breaks When EDI Acknowledgements Run Three Hours Behind
CBSA's two-month EDI inbound delay is still sitting at one to three hours. For most shipments that's noise. For time-sensitive releases, NRI filings, and cross-border just-in-time programs, it quietly wrecks the math.
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