Canada's Retaliatory Tariffs Start September 8: What Importers Need to Do Before the Clock Runs Out
Canada's retaliatory surtaxes on U.S.-origin goods kick in September 8, and importers have about two weeks to get their declarations, origin documentation, and CARM financial security in order. The remission relief that exists is narrow and condition-specific, not a blanket exemption. This post walks through exactly what to check, what to fix, and what mistakes will cost you come October.
CBSA's 2026 Trade Verification Priorities Are Out: What Steel, Aluminum, and Origin Claims Mean for Your Next Shipment
CBSA has published its 2026 trade verification priorities, and steel, aluminum, and CUSMA origin claims are squarely in the crosshairs. If you import in these sectors, the question isn't whether you could get a verification letter, it's whether your documentation would hold up if you did. This guide breaks down what CBSA is looking for, which HS codes are under scrutiny, and how to run a self-audit before the agency does it for you.
What Is a Detailed Adjustment Statement?
A Detailed Adjustment Statement arrives when the CBSA changes something about an import you already declared and paid duties on. It can mean money owed or a refund coming your way, and the deadline to respond is real. Knowing how to read one and when to push back keeps a routine adjustment from becoming a bigger problem.
AMPS Penalties in Canada
AMPS is the CBSA's civil penalty system for trade non-compliance, and most penalties come from late accounting, wrong classifications, or records that can't be produced on request, not bad intent. The penalties are graduated, meaning repeat contraventions cost more than first occurrences. This guide covers how the system works, the contraventions that show up most often, and the practical habits that keep penalties off your account.
What Is CARM?
CARM, the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management system, is now the official way commercial importers account for duties and taxes in Canada. It shifted financial security responsibilities to importers, replaced paper forms with electronic accounting, and introduced a self-service portal for payments and disputes. If you import commercially into Canada, here's what you need to know to stay on the right side of it.
CARM Compliance Guide for Canadian Importers
CARM has been mandatory since October 2024, and the penalties for getting it wrong are showing up on real accounts. This guide covers what Canadian importers actually need to do: register on the portal, post financial security, set up broker delegation, and stay on top of monthly payments. It also covers what's changed in 2026, including the surtax remission deadline, expanded CBSA verification priorities, and origin enforcement.
CARM Portal Setup: Step-by-Step Registration Guide
If you haven't registered on the CARM Client Portal yet, you're missing duty notices, re-determinations, and compliance correspondence that CBSA now sends directly to importers. This guide walks through every step of the registration process — from getting your GCKey to setting up financial security — so you can stop relying on your broker to catch things you should be seeing yourself. The process takes under an hour if you're prepared, but the bond paperwork can take weeks, so don't wait.
Financial Security Requirements Under CARM: What Changed in 2025
Most importers never had to think about financial security before CARM — their broker handled it. That changed in May 2025, when the transitional period ended and importers became responsible for posting their own bond or cash deposit directly with CBSA. If you haven't checked your CARM Client Portal lately, especially with retaliatory tariffs pushing duty costs higher, now is the time.
Business Number Transition Guide: From Legacy to BN15
If you're still importing under an old RM account number and haven't finished your BN15 transition in CARM, your shipments are at risk of being held at the border. This guide walks through exactly what the transition involves, what can go wrong, and how to confirm your account is set up correctly. Thirty minutes of attention now can save you from a very expensive lesson later.
CBSA Audit Priorities for 2026: What Importers Need to Know
CBSA's enforcement activity is picking up in 2026, and the shift to CARM has made it easier than ever for the agency to flag compliance gaps algorithmically. Importers in high-risk commodity groups like steel, aluminum, and textiles are seeing verification letters at a higher rate, and the retaliatory tariff situation has added a new layer of origin and surtax scrutiny. Here's what CBSA is actually focused on this year and what you can do before a verification letter lands in your inbox.
CARM Penalties and Compliance Failures: How to Avoid Them
CBSA is done waiting for importers to sort out their CARM setup. Penalties under the Administrative Monetary Penalty System are landing on importers who missed registration steps, let their financial security fall short, or skipped reviewing their monthly statements. Here is what the most common compliance failures look like and what you can do to fix them before an audit finds you first.