Today, we are diving into the top 10 most popular posts of 2023, and based on this list, it is clear that this year was all about learning and growing as international business professionals, a trend we hope to help you continue into 2024. 

Before we get to the list, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you all so much for reading this year, and we hope you stay with us in 2024 as we continue our journey through the ever-changing landscape of international trade!

Without any further ado, let’s get to our list that begins with a bit of a wild card…

10. An Import Horror Story

Every now and then, we like to change up the format and have a bit of fun here on the blog, and it is clear from the overwhelming reception to our “Import Horror Story” that you love the occasional less-serious post almost as much as we love writing them. This might also be explained by the fact that there is a lot of emotional overlap between horror as a genre and the often stressful world of international trade.

9. How to Import for a Trade Show in the US or Canada

If you are taking the show on the road, this blog is for you. Written as a bi-national guide filled with examples, checklists, possible pitfalls, and best practices, this post is an excellent place to prepare for your international trade show experience. Whether this is your first time traveling across the border for a trade show or the hundredth, there is always something to learn or brush up on, and this is an excellent place to start. 

8. Labor Action: BC Ports

It was a very big year for labor action in Canada and across the globe. In this instance, the Warehouse Union Canada labor action caused significant delays for ocean freight moving through Canada, but with PCB Global Trade Management on their side, our clients found up-to-date information, workarounds, and alternatives to keep their business moving as quickly as possible. 

7. CBSA 2023 Trade Verification List

When it comes to compliance updates, you can count on us to keep you informed. With the release of the 2023 trade verification priority list for July, we endeavored to give you an overview of everything you needed to know, along with all the ways you can continue to stay compliant. It also serves as an incredible living advertisement for our Trade Compliance team. If this post seemed overwhelming, we know some people you should call. 

6. Refuse Entry for Import of Aquatic Animals From Türkiye for Food

We cover a lot of topics at PCB. Regulation updates, best practices, and news from around the globe all get a spot on the blog, but there’s no predicting what will pique people’s interest—for example, this highly specific aquatic animal news out of Türkiye seems to have struck a chord.

5.  Importing Houseplants into Canada

If one thing is perennial about our readership and a theme that will come up many more times in this list - it is your love of plant life. Not to be confused with 2020's “How to Import Flowers into Canada in 7 Steps,” the information on this post is some of the most comprehensive on the site, so if you are looking to bring a bit more green into Canada - this is the post for you. 

4. Considerations When Importing Produce into Canada

Did you know that PCB is among Canada's largest facilitators of international produce trade? It’s true, and if you are looking for evidence of that, look no further than number four on our list. This straightforward and informative guide is ideal for anyone looking to get started importing fresh fruit or vegetables into Canada. 

You may be reading this and thinking, ‘I don’t want to import produce - I want to grow it!’ Not to fear, because we are moving on to the top three, and it begins with…

3. Importing Agricultural Equipment into Canada

We know produce at PCB, and that includes those who want to farm it in Canada! This post covers the basics of importing agricultural equipment and establishes a baseline for how importing this equipment works from a beginner’s perspective. It is comprehensive but not overwhelming, and it also comes with a fully downloadable guide if you are looking for a deeper dive. 

2. 6 Methods of Determining Customs Valuation

Customs valuation is an enormous part of international trade, and for the uninitiated, it can be incredibly complicated. For this reason, it is not surprising that this was a wildly popular read. With a lot of detail and nuanced insider knowledge, this blog post exemplifies what a business professional would hope to glean from a relationship with PCB Global Trade Management. 

Having said that, there’s no shame if, halfway through reading it, you decided to toss your hands up and give our intrepid Trade Compliance Team a call. After all, that’s what we’re here for!

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From start to finish, PCB Global Trade Management has you and your international trade needs covered. Whether you are importing a potted plant for your living room, a belt pickup for your farm, or banners for your trade show booth,  we have the expertise to get your goods moving quickly and easily. 

Still, none of those things took the top spot on the blog this year. That honor goes to a topic we, and our readers, love even more than plants and customs valuations combined…

1.  How to Import a Dog from the US into Canada

It was an effortless win for our four-legged friends this year, taking the number one spot on this list and in our hearts. We suspect this article has the position it does because dogs are adorable, AND bringing them across the border can be a deceptively complex process for the unprepared. 

If you’re considering importing a ray of furry sunshine from out of the country, read this one first. It will start the whole thing off on the right paw! 

That’s it, our top ten blog posts from 2023 - unless, of course, this post does particularly well...

In any case, keep your eyes peeled for a fresh crop of informative blogs we’ve got in the pipeline for next year, and while we have you - why not sign up for the Trading Post if you haven’t already? It’s the surest way to get the latest trade updates, blog posts, policy changes, and breaking news, including the latest on aquatic animals for food out of Türkiye. 

From all of us at PCB Global Trade Management, have a very happy holiday and a prosperous 2024!