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.
Shipping Broker Role When Suppliers Are Importer of Record: Who Gets the Duty Refund?
When your supplier acts as importer of record, duty refunds and drawback claims can get messy. A shipping broker working with CBSA's CARM system must clarify who paid, who files the CAD, and who ultimately captures the benefit when tariffs drop or origin claims change.
Read article →US Polysilicon Tariffs and the Electronics That Cross the Canadian Border
Trump's 15% polysilicon levy reshapes supplier documentation for Canadian importers of semiconductors and solar equipment that cross the Canadian border. CUSMA origin claims, HS classification, and CBSA verification timelines all shift when upstream input costs move.
Read article →Voluntary Disclosure: Your Safety Net When Peak Season Entries Go Wrong
Rush season shipping increases customs declaration errors. CBSA's voluntary disclosure program lets Canadian importers self-report mistakes before audit, potentially avoiding AMPS penalties that can reach thousands per entry.
Read article →Atlantic Freight Consolidation and OGD Permit Canada Coordination
Seaport Group's acquisition of Classic Freight Systems expands Atlantic Canada freight capacity, but the bigger question for importers: does your freight forwarder actually coordinate OGD permit Canada filings, or just move boxes? We break down what controlled-goods importers need from their broker and forwarder in 2026.
Read article →Canada Free Trade Agreement Defence: What $100B in US Tariff Refunds Teaches Importers
CBP has paid out over $100 billion in tariff refunds under IEEPA, but a DOJ appeal still blocks final liquidation. Canadian importers have a clearer path: properly claimed CUSMA and CETA origin locks in predictable duty rates and shields against the kind of tariff volatility driving US refund chaos.
Read article →CARM Client Portal Setup for Grain Importers: What Record Rail Volumes Expose
Record Canadian grain movement in 2025-26 is pushing first-time agricultural importers into CARM Client Portal setup, and many are misconfiguring their accounts. Bond sizing, HS classification authority, and CAD filing delegation are the three most common pain points we see this season.
Read article →Move to Canada from US: What the Supply Chain Crime Crackdown Means for New Importers
US businesses planning to move to Canada from US operations face a tightening compliance environment as Ottawa cracks down on organized crime, forced labour, and customs evasions in the freight sector. Here's what you need to know before your first CAD filing.
Read article →CBSA CARM Client Portal and Landed Cost Tracking When Ocean Rates Swing Weekly
Asia-Europe container rates dropped for a fourth straight week while transpacific lanes saw increases. For Canadian importers filing CADs through the CBSA CARM Client Portal, that volatility turns landed cost forecasting into a moving target. Here's how brokers handle duty estimates and RPP bond sizing when freight swings 15-20% between quote and arrival.
Read article →CBSA Is Rewriting D10-15-22 on Auto Transmission Parts — Here's What Importers Should Watch
CBSA's Tariff Classification Unit opened consultation on D10-15-22, the D-memo governing automatic transmission parts under tariff item 9961.00.00. For automotive importers, this isn't routine — classification changes mean duty adjustments, origin claim exposure, and potential retroactive corrections going back four years.
Read article →Cross Border Trucking US Canada: What SeaLead's Collapse Means for CBSA Clearance
SeaLead Shipping's liquidation removes container capacity from Asia-North America lanes, tightening cross border trucking US Canada schedules. Canadian importers filing CADs through CARM face longer dwell times and higher drayage costs when ocean capacity shrinks.
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