Blog Posts

Special Notice: Trade attorneys have confirmed as of early April that the earliest the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement can take effect is July 1 if the parties follow the language laying out how the pact can enter into force. This situation will continue to be extremely fluid as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will keep you apprised of updated information as it arrives.

Canada rushed through a deal to pass implementation legislation for the CUSMA (Canada-U.S.-Mexico) trade agreement on March 13, 2020 before suspending parliament to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

SPECIAL NOTICE: The CBSA has put off all verification related activities until at least April 20, 2020. The length of this suspension period may be re-evaluated at a later date. We will update you as soon as more information comes available. 

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.

Wood and wood-containing products can carry and introduce harmful pests, so their import is tightly monitored in both the U.S. and Canada. Wood packaging materials are also subject to import regulation.

On January 1, 2020, IMO2020 came into effect under IMO’s MARPOL treaty limiting sulphur emissions from ocean fuel to 0.5%.

While the U.S. has ratified the new North American free trade agreement between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, the document has yet to be ratified in Canada.

At the end of January 2020, President Trump ratified the USMCA free trade agreement, a 2,082-page document replacing the 1994 North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA).

The layman's guide to Tariff classification - Infographic

The new SWI landscape

The Single Window Initiative means several changes for importers:

The agriculture industry has a wide range of logistics considerations, including transporting large equipment, and importing/exporting products with varying requirements.

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.