The PCB Learning Center is one of PCB’s best service offerings, and today, we are eager to share what it has in store for 2025! If you aren’t familiar, our Learning Center provides a suite of free webinars over the course of the year. These webinars cover a wide range of topics in the world of international trade, so whether you are a brand-new importer looking for baseline information or an importing veteran looking to sharpen your skills, this is the best place to elevate your international trade for free. 

Our webinars feature leading minds in their field and typically run for an hour, covering one specific aspect of global trade. Sometimes, the topic focuses on a single broad concept like “Understanding Valuation” or the regulations surrounding importing into a specific country, while other times, it is skill-focused, as is the case in the ‘Making a Payment in CARM’ webinar. From mastering the fundamentals to coming to grips with programs and regulatory changes like CARM, our webinars offer a breadth of knowledge that is worth the time for importers of all shapes and sizes.

Fortunately, you don’t have to take our word for it. If you are looking for evidence of this program’s efficacy, look no further than our reputation in the international trade community. These webinars are routinely frequented by Customs professionals and freight forwarders from a wide range of companies and businesses that are in the same industry but outside of PCB. When it comes time to sharpen skills, our courses provide Canadian Society of Customs Brokers and National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Educational Institute (NEI) accreditation points, making us an educational resource not just for our clients but also for the industry as a whole.

Below are this year's upcoming topics, along with when they will occur*. You are encouraged to visit (and bookmark) The Learning Center for specific dates, details, seat savings, and the opportunity to customize your own bespoke course. 

*As always, dates may be subject to change. Visit the Learning Center for the latest information. 

How to Make a Payment in CARM

At the time of writing, CARM is in the midst of its transitional grace periods, but these will not last forever, and the more competent you are at using the CARM Client Portal and its many features, the better off you will be when these grace periods inevitably end. 

In the ‘How to Make a Payment in CARM’ webinar, our CARM experts walk you through the mechanics and processes involved in making a payment in CARM, from understanding your statement of account to CAD submissions and dashboard guidance, this is the place to get the base knowledge you need to fully understand the CARM Client Portal’s payment systems.

Topics in this webinar include: 

• Understanding Your Statement Of Account (SOA)
• CARM Dashboard Examples And Walk-Throughs
• Viewing A Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD)
• Exploring Different Payment Options.

Upcoming Sessions:

• January 16, 2025
• February 6, 2025

Financial Security and CARM

CARM is the way all commercial entities establish and manage their financial securities. In this hour-long webinar with a CARM expert, we explain the basics of financial security within the CARM Client Portal, including accepted bond types, determining whether you need financial security in place, CBSA monitoring and review cycles, and the details surrounding the Release Prior to Payment Sub Program. If you have questions or are confused about establishing financial security in the portal - this is the webinar for you. 

Topics in this webinar include: 

• What Is Financial Security? 
• Who Needs Financial Security? 
• What Is The ‘Release Prior To Payment’ Subprogram?
• What Are The Different Types Of Bonds? 
• Explanations Of Monthly Monitoring And The Yearly Review Cycle.

Upcoming Sessions:

• January 30, 2025
• February 27, 2025
• March 20, 2025
• April 10, 2025
• June 26, 2025
• July 31, 2025
• August 14, 2025

How to Import into Canada || How to Import into the US

A standard offering every year, our ‘How to Import into…” webinars are a perennial favorite for new and seasoned importers alike. Covering all the details you need to know when importing into Canada or the US, this webinar serves as a strong starting point for anyone looking to make the leap into a brand-new international market. 

Topics in this webinar include: 

• Responsibility of the Importer
• Role of the Customs Broker
• CBSA and Participating/Partnering Government Agencies
• Determining Country Of Origin
• Determining Your Tariff Classification
• Review of the Required Documents and Forms 

Upcoming Sessions:

• (Canada) February 20, 2025
• (US) September 25, 2025

How to Classify a Product

One of the most contentious topics in all of importing - classification is a complex process with incredibly high stakes. Getting it wrong can mean significant penalties and a blight against your reputation at Customs, so it is imperative you understand the process involved well before you ever ship. This webinar covers everything you need to know about classifying a product, including information about how goods are classified, what the different classifications can mean, and the terminology used in the process. By the end of this webinar, you’ll have the literacy and understanding needed to navigate classification well. 

Topics in this webinar include: 

• Harmonized Commodity Descriptions
• Coding System And Classification Aids
• General Rules Of Interpretation (GRI)
• Duty Rates And Binding Rulings
• Countervailing Duty Vs. Anti-Dumping Duty
• Shared Responsibility And Informed Compliance

Upcoming Session: 

• April 24, 2025

How to Choose the Best Incoterm®

Incoterms® are internationally recognized terms of sale, and many importers erroneously believe that when it comes to these terms, it’s pick one that works and call it done. The reality is that choosing the right Incoterms® for your import can be a complex process and one that, if done wrong, could potentially leave money on the table. Knowing what Incoterms® are available and how they best are applied to your specific imports could make all the difference to your bottom line. In this two-hour-long free webinar, we dive into what Incoterms® are, how they are applied, what they mean legally, and how you can use them to be in the best position possible during your import. 

Topics in this webinar include: 

• What Are Incoterms® And Their Importance
• Terms And Definitions
• Use Cases And Who Pays What
• Transfer Of Responsibility And Legal Implications
• Modes Of Transportation And Controlling Your Supply Chain
• Best Practices And Consequences Of Choosing The “Wrong” Term

Upcoming Session: 

• May 8, 2025

How to Value a Product for Customs

Second only to classification, valuation is one of the most important decorations you can make when importing goods, and getting it right is a foundational piece of the international trade puzzle. But how do you know the value of your goods? Sometimes, it’s incredibly obvious, but other times, it’s not as simple as you might imagine. In this webinar, we dive into the world of valuation and the different methods that Customs uses to determine the value of an import. Whether you are a new importer learning about this for the first time or an established global business looking to hone your trade, this is the bedrock on which all importing is built - plus, it’s free and only an hour long. 

Topics in this webinar include: 

• Methods Of Appraisement / Valuation
• Deductions And Additions
• Related Party Transactions
• Valuation Pitfalls And Monetary Penalties
• Reasonable Care And Reason To Believe
• Rulings

Upcoming Session:

• November 20, 2025

We encourage you to head to the Learning Center and save your seat at the webinar of your choice as soon as possible, as space can be limited. Of course, if you don’t see the course that you are looking for or if you are looking for our team of experts to speak on something specific to your industry, we encourage you to investigate the bespoke speaking opportunities we provide through our Personalized Instruction service. 

In addition to the Learning Center, we also offer many additional services that can help streamline or strengthen your importing processes. Whether it’s our expert compliance team ensuring your goods are ready for Customs through our comprehensive Import Assessment service or our CARM experts giving you key information or guiding you through a virtual learning session, PCB is here to help elevate and expand your importing business from start to finish. 

Get in touch with our team today to get started!