When your goods cross an international border, they enter one of the most complex parts of global trade — customs clearance. For importers and exporters, this step determines whether your shipment moves smoothly or gets delayed, inspected, or even penalized.

At Maple Customs Brokers Inc., we believe transparency and knowledge are the keys to fast, compliant, and stress-free customs clearance. Below, we break down each stage of the process — from shipment arrival to final delivery — so you can understand exactly what happens behind the scenes.

1. Shipment Information Received

Every clearance begins with information — the documents and data that describe what’s being shipped.
Before your goods even arrive in Canada, our brokerage team gathers the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and any applicable permits.

This step allows us to:

• Review your shipment details for accuracy

• Verify tariff classifications and country of origin

• Identify any controlled or restricted goods that require special handling

Early submission of this data enables pre-arrival processing, allowing CBSA to review your entry before the goods reach the border. That means faster release times once they arrive.

2. Entry Submission to CBSA

Once all documentation is reviewed and confirmed, Maple Customs prepares an electronic customs entry and transmits it directly to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) through the Accelerated Commercial Release Operations Support System (ACROSS) or CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) portal.

The electronic declaration includes:

• Importer and supplier details

• HS classification and valuation data

• Country of origin

• Mode of transport and carrier information

• Duty and tax calculations

CBSA uses this information to verify compliance with tariff, valuation, and origin rules. Our direct digital link with CBSA ensures your entry data is transmitted instantly and securely, reducing delays at the point of entry.

3. Duty & Tax Assessment

After submission, CBSA assesses applicable duties, taxes, and fees based on:

• HS Code (tariff classification)

• Declared Value for Duty

• Country of Origin

• Trade Agreement Eligibility (e.g., CUSMA, CETA, CPTPP)

Our brokers carefully check each classification and value to make sure you’re paying only what’s legally required — nothing more.

We also identify opportunities for:

• Duty relief and drawback programs

• Bonded warehouse storage (to defer duties)

• Remission or tariff exemption programs for specific industries

By combining automation and expertise, Maple Customs minimizes errors and ensures your duty payments are accurate and fully compliant.

4. Payment & Release

Once CBSA accepts the declaration and confirms the assessment, duties and taxes are remitted — either through Maple Customs’ customs account or directly via your CARM client portal.

As soon as payment is confirmed, CBSA issues a release notification, meaning your goods are cleared to move forward.

In many cases, our electronic release process allows shipments to be approved within minutes of arrival — especially for trusted importers and pre-approved clients under CBSA’s Release Prior to Payment (RPP) or Trusted Traderprograms.

Our operations team monitors every entry to confirm status changes and immediately notify you when your goods are released, ensuring full visibility at every step.

5. Delivery to Destination

After clearance, your goods are free to move to their final destination — whether that’s:

• A bonded or non-bonded warehouse

• A retail distribution center

• An Amazon FBA fulfillment center

• Or directly to your customer

We coordinate with your carrier or freight forwarder to arrange the final leg of transportation, ensuring documentation matches and your cargo is properly accounted for upon delivery.

Once the shipment is complete, all customs documentation is securely archived in your Maple Customs client portal, giving you easy access for audits, reports, and historical data.

Behind the Scenes: The Maple Customs Advantage

While the process above looks linear, real-world customs clearance involves multiple parallel checks and systems. Maple Customs leverages:

• Integrated EDI connections with CBSA, carriers, and warehouses

• Automated tariff classification tools with human oversight

• Data validation routines to flag discrepancies before submission

• Real-time tracking and notification systems for importers

Our mix of automation and human expertise ensures your shipment flows seamlessly through Canada’s customs system.

Faster, Smarter, and Always Compliant

A well-managed customs clearance process doesn’t just save time — it builds reliability.
When your clients, suppliers, and carriers know that your goods clear quickly and without issues, you gain a real competitive edge.

At Maple Customs Brokers Inc., our mission is simple:
To make customs clearance as efficient, transparent, and worry-free as possible.

From the moment your shipment leaves its origin to the moment it reaches its destination, we handle the complexity — so you can focus on growing your business.