Under the current leadership, enforcement actions on cross-border cargo have significantly increased, causing delays and financial burdens for shippers and acting as a deterrent to trade, according to industry sources.
As a protective barrier emerges along the 49th parallel, industry experts note a surge in freight inspections and penalties as part of a stricter customs approach in the United States.
Describing the situation as a major shift, Breanna Leininger, who oversees U.S. operations at Pacific Customs Brokers in Vancouver, highlighted a tenfold rise in border officials’ requests for documentation on shipped goods compared to previous years.
“The frequency of customs delving deeper into our entries has significantly increased. While a few instances like this were rare a few years ago, now we encounter several on a daily basis,” Leininger explained, managing a clientele of 5,000 businesses involved in cross-border shipments.
Importers are now required to provide more extensive documentation, including labor and manufacturing records, to demonstrate compliance with product classifications and trade agreements, with the level of evidence and tariffed items seemingly changing frequently.
“The standards keep shifting, and the requested information varies consistently,” Leininger added.
Verified by statistics, the enforcement measures are becoming more stringent.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicates a projected 26% increase in audits this year compared to 2024.
An audit involves reviewing an importer’s records to ensure compliance with tariff classifications, customs valuations, and free-trade agreements like the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
In the first half of this year, U.S. customs authorities collected $70.6 million US in trade penalties by late July, marking a 169% increase from the entire year of 2024.
This six-month total also reflects a 53% surge compared to all of 2025.
Intensifying Trade Dispute
The heightened enforcement actions coincide with an escalating trade conflict between Canada and the U.S., as both sides implement new rounds of tariffs in recent weeks.
The delays at the border and the additional time needed for sourcing product records contribute to higher expenses and, at times, discourage cross-border trade.
“The costs escalate significantly. Storing goods in a warehouse can amount to thousands of dollars,” noted Alan Dewar, executive vice-president at GHY, a customs brokerage based in Winnipeg.
