CBSA Publishes July 2026 Trade Compliance Verification Priorities
Trade Update • July 14, 2026
Key Points
- CBSA has updated its trade verification and compliance priorities as of July 2026, adding new surtax and trade-agreement targets.
- CBSA has also published results for ongoing verification rounds: several priorities show high error rates and significant assessed revenue.
- Key areas include supply-managed goods, taxes, surtaxes, and trade agreement compliance.
- CBSA highlights CARM as a central tool to validate duties and support compliance interventions.
- TAN, CVL, and DCL tools address potential, suspected, and known non-compliance.
- Priorities may change during the year based on monitoring, revenue risk, and verification outcomes.
The 
Canada Boder Services Agency (CBSA) updated its 2026 trade verification and compliance priorities as of July 2026. Priority areas continue to include supply-managed goods, frozen desserts, spent fowl, energy commodities, and regulated taxes, while CBSA also monitors compliance under trade agreements like CUSMA, CETA, CUKTCA, and CPTPP, and enforces China and U.S. surtax orders, along with the Steel Derivative Goods Surtax Order. CBSA has also released new verification results across most of its ongoing tariff classification and valuation priorities.
Compliance Priorities
The CBSA has identified the following priorities:
- Tariff rate quotas and classification of supply-managed goods
- Verifications on the classification of frozen desserts containing 5% dairy
- Verifications on the classification of spent fowl products
- GST and excise duties, including:
- GST exemption codes
- Vaping products subject to excise duties and taxes
- Precious metals
- CUSMA origin verifications
- Automotive sector
- Import origin verifications under:
- Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
- Canada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA)
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP): Short supply list of products
- Duties Relief Program (DRP)
- Verifications of licensees importing supply-managed goods
- China Surtax Order (2024):
- Electric vehicles
- Steel and aluminum
- U.S. Surtax Orders
- (2025-01)
- Steel and aluminum (2025)
- Motor Vehicles 2025
- Order imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods
- Steel Goods and Aluminum Goods Surtax Order
- Steel Derivative Goods Surtax Order
- Energy commodities and final accounting
- Verifications on electricity imports under Chapter 27 of the Customs Tariff
CBSA sets verification priorities through a continuous, risk-based process. New priorities may be added during the year, and CBSA may revise these priorities at any time as risk conditions change.
Verification Results So Far
Newer verification rounds calculate total assessed revenue to include duties at risk, GST, and interest, in addition to penalties. Older rounds counted only duties at risk and penalties.
- Spent fowl: 26 targeted companies, 12 cases closed, 5 in error (42%), $196,004,072 total assessed revenue.
- Frozen desserts: 36 targeted companies, 27 cases closed, 17 in error (63%), $56,599,453 total assessed revenue.
- United States Surtax Order (2025-1): 245 targeted companies, 202 cases closed, 152 in error (75%), $11,808,761 total assessed revenue.
- United States Surtax Order (Steel and Aluminum 2025): 38 targeted companies, 29 cases closed, 20 in error (69%), $7,399,577 total assessed revenue.
- China Surtax Order (2024) — Steel and aluminum: 196 targeted companies, 171 cases closed, 102 in error (60%), $5,169,131 total assessed revenue.
- China Surtax Order (2024) — Electric vehicles: 17 targeted companies, 13 cases closed, 10 in error (77%), $1,903,300 total assessed revenue.
- Energy commodities (valuation): 15 targeted companies, 6 cases closed, 1 in error (17%), $823,059 total assessed revenue.
- Steel Goods and Aluminum Goods Surtax Order: 19 targeted companies, 6 cases closed, 3 in error (50%), $49,691 total assessed revenue.
- Order imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods: 10 targeted companies, 0 cases closed, not applicable.
CARM and Other CBSA Compliance Tools
CBSA highlights the CBSA Assessment Revenue Management (CARM) as a central tool for validating duties and taxes. It enables targeted compliance interventions to address areas of known or suspected non-compliance, complementing the agency’s broader verification priorities.
In addition to CARM, CBSA uses three compliance intervention tools:
- Trade Advisory Notice (TAN): Alerts importers to potential non-compliance and provides guidance. No monetary assessment is issued.
- Compliance Validation Letter (CVL): Requests additional information when non-compliance is suspected. Monetary assessment may follow.
- Directed Compliance Letter (DCL): Addresses known non-compliance and includes a monetary assessment.
All resulting assessments are subject to the recourse provisions of the Customs Act.
Tip: Use GHY’s CARM guide to stay compliant with CBSA requirements. It covers essential tasks like posting financial security, registering and delegating in the CARM Client Portal, managing payments, and handling Commercial Accounting Declarations (CADs) efficiently.
For any questions about the priority list, please email: cbsa.trci-erecio.asfc@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.
How GHY Can Help?
GHY specializes in helping businesses navigate and reduce the impacts of tariffs through strategic solutions tailored to their needs. Our experts can audit your supply chain to identify inefficiencies, uncover cost-saving opportunities, and ensure compliance with evolving trade regulations. We also employ tariff engineering techniques to optimize product classification and sourcing strategies, minimizing duty exposure and maximizing profitability.
By partnering with GHY, your business gains access to the tools and expertise needed to streamline operations and stay competitive in a challenging trade environment.
Contact Us Today! Booking a Meeting, email consult@ghy.com, or call +1 (800) 667-0771.
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