Blog Posts

Yes!

 

A lot of people don’t purchase freight insurance because they think it’s unnecessary: their cargo is indestructible, it’s not attractive to thieves, or it’s not valuable enough to warrant the protection offered by insurance.

 

But… Insuring your shipment is always advised. Even if your goods aren’t worth a great deal, without insurance, you could get dinged with a significant charge if a General Average claim is made on the ship your cargo travelled on.

 

A certificate of origin is a legal document that certifies a shipment’s country of origin. In the context of free trade agreements (FTAs), certificates of origin are required in order to qualify for a reduced duty rate. The rules around certificates of origin and associated duty relief are specific to each FTA.

 

Delays along the shipping chain can be exasperating and can make a business owner feel helpless. Although many factors can conspire against a smooth shipping experience, being in the know about what they are – and being prepared to respond to them – can put you back in control.

The Air Cargo Security Program has as its goal the establishment of a secure supply chain that keeps air cargo safe and free from tampering while being handled at different stages of its journey.

 

Starting October 17, 2016, air cargo can be screened and made secure from as early as the time it is packed, up until it is tendered to an air carrier. In order to be involved in screening, storing, transporting, tendering and/or accepting secure air cargo, a business that plays a part in the supply chain can apply to participate in the program in one of five roles.

 

One of the biggest challenges facing importers is uncertainty around shipping rates. Plagued by slow global trade and shipping overcapacity, 2015 was one of the most volatile rate periods in recent history. Many factors contribute to freight price fluctuations. Knowing the reasons for this volatility can help you, the importer, be prepared.

 

As an importer of goods into Canada, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the overall import process, along with the rules and regulations that govern it.

 

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) targets certain industries and products for audit each year to ensure compliance with tariff classification, product valuation and country of origin requirements.

 

 

Hanjin Shipping, once the seventh-largest ocean shipping company in the world, recently declared bankruptcy, leaving dozens of ships, carrying over 14 billion dollars in cargo, stranded at sea.

 

 

Every day, businesses big and small find themselves facing unanticipated delays at the border. These delays can be a nuisance at best and a supply chain nightmare at worst. They are frustrating, stressful and costly – and they’re also avoidable.

It’s been less than a month since the announcement of shipping giant Hanjin’s bankruptcy and the shipping industry continues to struggle with pressures coming from a variety of sources in challenging global financial times.