Blog Posts

This week, we dive deep into the background and context of IMO2020, putting the 0.5% sulphur emissions cap into greater context, and discussing the economic and environmental impacts of the mandate in greater detail as we move into the last quarter of 2019.

A solid relationship with your customs broker, and a good fit with them, is essential for an importer. But what if it’s time for a change? This week, we dive deep into why you might consider a switch and how to go about it without disrupting your operations.

Canada Border Services Agency prioritizes certain industries and products for audits to ensure ongoing compliance. The Agency keeps their verification priority list current on their website. Cole’s Audit Response Team also keeps track of trends we see in CBSA verifications, which we share with you regularly so you can feel secure about your customs compliance.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) targets specific industries and products for extra attention at the border to ensure that importers are compliant with requirements for tariff classification, product valuation, and country of origin.

Importing vehicles into the U.S. isn't a process you should expect to be easy. It's filled with regulations, requirements, an emission testing.

Rising fuel costs. Emission-reduction regulations. Peak season surcharges and capacity crunches. Across modes and all over the world, importers are working hard to balance competing priorities: keeping their supply chains moving quickly while protecting their profit margins.

With imports valued at more than $2.6 trillion, the United States is one of the leading countries for importing goods. U.S. importing has risen since 2014 by 8.4% and during 2018, about 45% of the imports came from providers in Asia. Based on the population of just over 329 million people, the total imports in the U.S. translates to about $7,900 in yearly per U.S. resident, according to WorldsTopExports.com.

Surtaxes can be confusing for importers bringing goods into Canada. They can arrive without warning and change just as fast. Cole’s Consulting department took the time to explain the basics of surtax for companies bringing goods and services into Canada.

If you're planning to start an importing business, U.S. Customs will likely become something you will need to understand. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP is in charge of regulating all goods imported into the United States from other countries.

International shipping and freight is a complicated business. When moving goods over land, sea, and air, there are a lot of moving pieces and a lot of industry-specific terminology that can be confusing. We’ve put together a brief introductory guide to help you navigate the real basics of freight.