2024 was a year filled with big changes in the world of international trade. Whether it was a surge in labor action, new technologies, or new trade regulations, it will be remembered as a year where reevaluation and reassessment of common practices were brought to the fore as many businesses were faced with the question of whether they were really as adaptable as they once thought. 

With such a potent season of change behind us, the obvious question becomes - what can we expect ahead of us? To answer this question, the Trading Post has gathered three of our industry experts to give a prediction about what could be coming down the tracks in 2025.

What to Expect as a Canadian Importer in 2025

Gloria Terhaar - CCS (CA/US), CTCS, LCB

Regulatory Analyst, CA Operations

Canada is heading into a unique place in 2025. CARM seems poised to hold its position on the list of ongoing stresses, and the challenges it continues to pose for importers are likely to stay. In this coming year, two key areas of concern for Canadian commercial importers will likely stem from CARM: increased scrutiny of customs accounting documents and the end of the grace periods. 

One of CARM's lesser-known benefits, from the CBSA's perspective, is that it increases reporting transparency at Customs. In the 2017 Auditor General Report, it was brought to light that CBSA wasn’t ensuring the appropriate duties and taxes on imported goods were being remitted to the government as well as it could be. CARM was devised to be a key part of the solution to help resolve this problem by replacing an outdated system. The end result of this is that now, heading into 2025, discrepancies that might have otherwise slipped under the radar are much easier to spot and report on. 

It seems incredibly likely that once the machinery of CARM gains full speed, many businesses could be surprised to discover that their self-reporting is not as airtight as they imagined. Importers should expect an increase in compliance verifications in 2025.

On a related note, CARM will also make the CBSA even more effective in the identification and scrutiny of goods identified by the trade verification list. We expect that importers of these and similar goods will experience increased verifications performed by CBSA to ensure compliance. So, if you are importing an item noted on the current trade compliance verification list, then consider this your reminder that now is a fantastic time to bring your goods into granular compliance.

The second issue that 2025 will bring to the fore is the end of grace periods for CARM. The grace periods being extended by CARM have already ended in some cases, such as late accounting penalties, and the remainder, such as the financial security transition period, are set to end in 2025 unless extended. Like everything, when it comes to the requirements of CARM, getting ahead of the issue is going to be your best course of action. You don’t want to be a business that is caught unawares by this - now is the time to get yourself set up the way you mean to proceed into 2025 - registered, delegated, and with financial security in place because those who don’t act now are going to be in for a potentially costly start to the year.

Of course, importers should be aware of other things that are sure to make headlines in 2025, the best examples being the increasing possibility of new tariffs on US goods and the looming renegotiation of CUSMA/USMCA/TMEC which is set to begin in 2026. However, nothing is coming on the horizon that working with our incredible team of trade advisory specialists won’t prepare you for. So, if there is one resolution we recommend across the board, it’s to contact our team as soon as possible. 

What to Expect as a US Importer in 2025

Breanna Leininger - CCS, LCB

Vice President, US Operations

When it comes to being a US importer in 2025, the mantra has to be ‘expect the unexpected.’ Perhaps more than any other year in recent history, 2025 appears set to be one where pushing the envelope for new ideas will be rewarded. You can expect new trade strategies to take the fore and new opportunities for your business to thrive in what some experts think will be a year of growth in the marketplace. 

In terms of regulations, 2025 seems likely to be one of a rebalancing of priorities and global markets. Already, we are seeing early indications of changes to the requirements surrounding low-value shipments, and that could very well be the thin edge of the wedge as a greater focus is placed on importing as an industry. The best thing you can do now is keep on top of changes by working with a trade advisor. Knowing what is changing and when it’s happening is a vital step towards successfully navigating what is to come. 

Staying flexible and being smart in terms of where your goods are sourced from and how they arrive is going to define successful US importers in 2025. There are opportunities for those who have the eyes to see them, and one of the surest ways to spot and take advantage of them is with the help of a skilled freight forwarder. If you still haven’t worked one into your business’s strategy, making that a resolution for 2025 is going to be key. 

What to Expect in Logistics in 2025

Alexandra Haukaas

General Manager, Freight Operations

When discussing logistics in 2025, the most important thing to keep in mind are the hard lessons learned in 2024. The largest of which had to be the question repeatedly asked by global events - how resilient is your supply chain actually?

A deluge of shake-ups and stoppages in the logistics world characterized 2024. From standard operating issues like strikes to disruptive acts of nature due to climate change, 2024 challenged any importer not adequately prepared for the unpredictable. Unfortunately, there is no indication that 2025 will be any less chaotic, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that the more you do to build your supply chain to withstand these events, the better the year will go for your business.

Ultimately, the big ask for businesses in 2025 will be - how well does your supply chain pivot or capitalize when things go sideways in the international marketplace?

Of course, climate change and labor action will still remain significant concerns when it comes to the unknown shores of 2025, but it’s not all bad news in the global marketplace. There are many exciting new ideas, advancements, and technology that are already turning heads in the early days of 2025. One of the most prolific developments could be the move away from ocean shipments towards a more air-focused strategy. While ocean freight was regularly disrupted in 2024, air freight seems poised to be the mode of transport that more businesses will come to rely on going into the future.

Similarly, conversations about AI continue to turn as technological integration takes the fore. Whether automating processes or providing key information quickly and organically, logistics specialists, freight forwarders, and industries at large are finding new ways to put this technology to work. With a growth that seems to only just be finding its full potential, it seems a safe bet that 2025 will be colored by the continued exploration of technology in the logistics sector.

While some disruptions are sudden and unpredictable, some we can see coming. For example, in the US, one of the largest challenges facing logistics specialists is contending with what seems to be a new focus on regulatory compliance for importers. A new trade protectionist focus seems inevitable, and that will mean changes in your logistics strategy are going to be vital. A shift like this in a country like the US means that logistical options will be the dial most turned to balance the import equation.

In the end, finding new opportunities by relying on experts in the field and expanding your options will be key in the year to come. A good freight forwarder, like the ones you’ll find here at PCB, could make all the difference in 2025.

In closing, 2025 will be a year of real opportunity for importers, but it won’t be without its challenges. Regardless of where you are, how you adapt to shifting circumstances and how fully you commit to being agile as an importer will dictate how this year unfolds for your business.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go through it alone. For any assistance, guidance, or services you might need to make this year a success, contact our Canadian, US, or Freight Management teams. Not only can we help you with ensuring your goods cross effectively and compliantly, but our Trade Advisory Group has the expertise you can count on to turn 2025 into your importing business’s best year yet.