Have you ever wondered “What does a customs broker do?” Or maybe “Do I need a customs broker?” To some, paying customs broker fees might seem like an unnecessary cost. But once you understand exactly when a customs broker is useful and what they can do for you, you’ll be able to recognize the ways a customs broker could save you money on your future shipments.  What Does a Customs Broker Do? Much like how a lawyer represents clie...

While CUSMA or USCMA has been extensively covered in news since 2018, there is still a lack of clarity about what it means, and how exactly it differs from the NAFTA agreement. The NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was, until recently, the trade deal agreed upon by Canada, Mexico and the United States. However, the demand to renegotiate took precedence based on various concerns and doubts raised by the economists, trade specialists and ...

To those who are not familiar, duties can be somewhat of a mystery and seem extremely arbitrary. Why on earth are you paying extra fees on something you already paid for, just because it came from another country?  Paying duty on shipped items may sting, but there is in fact good reason for those extra fees. Duty is put in place to protect Canadian industry, and is a protectionist approach to balancing trade with domestic industry. Duty rates...

When crossing the Canadian border, every person is required by law to submit themselves and their goods for inspection. This standard procedure, called Primary Inspection or Customs, is second nature for frequent travellers and people shipping across the border. However, you may be pulled aside again after the initial inspection. A secondary inspection at Canada’s border might be alarming at first, but you shouldn’t worry. In most cases, s...

Are you going to be traveling with your furry friend? Or perhaps you’re buying a dog across the border and bringing it to Canada? There are a few things you’ll need to understand about crossing the border with pets. Once you do, you’ll find that travelling with a pet is no problem at all. Things to remember: In both countries, your pet will be visually examined. If your pet appears infected or sick, you may be refused entry or have to...