Cross-Border & International Shipping Resources

Global standards & reference

• WCO Harmonized System (HS)

  The global product classification standard behind HS codes used in customs declarations and tariff schedules. Start here for the most authoritative explanation of the HS structure and purpose.

• WTO Regional Trade Agreements Database

  Searchable database of trade agreements notified to the WTO, including parties, scope, and official references. Useful for verifying whether an agreement is in force and who it covers.

• WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)

  The WTO agreement focused on simplifying and harmonizing customs procedures. Helpful for understanding the international baseline many “single window” and risk-management programs build on.

• WTO TFA Database

  A practical, country-by-country view of members’ trade facilitation notifications and implementation details. Useful for comparing “single window” and procedural commitments across jurisdictions.

• ICC Incoterms® 2020

  Official ICC overview of Incoterms rules used to allocate cost, risk, and responsibilities between seller and buyer. Great for avoiding disputes caused by mismatched assumptions around pickup, insurance, and import clearance.

• UN/CEFACT (UNECE)

  UN body responsible for many practical trade facilitation standards (data models, eDocs, and best practices). Useful for professionals implementing EDI/API-based trade document workflows.

• UN/LOCODE (UN location codes)

  Standardized location codes for ports, rail terminals, airports, and inland points used across shipping systems. Helpful for data normalization across carriers, forwarders, and visibility platforms.

• ISO 6346 (Container identification)

  The core standard behind container owner codes and container numbering. Useful when building validation rules for container numbers, documents, and system integrations.

• UN Comtrade

  International trade statistics by product and trading partner, widely used for market sizing and lane analysis. Helpful for validating demand, commodity mix, and trade-flow trends.

• GS1 Standards

  Global standards for barcodes, product identifiers, and data sharing used across supply chains. Useful for teams dealing with labeling, traceability, and retailer/manufacturer compliance.

Canada

Customs, tariffs, and cross-border reporting

• CBSA ACI / eManifest

  CBSA’s pre-arrival reporting program for highway/rail/air/ocean cargo and conveyances. Essential for understanding what data must be transmitted, by which party, and by what deadline.

• CBSA eManifest Portal

  CBSA portal used by some trade participants to submit and manage eManifest information. Useful for operations teams who need direct access for corrections and status checks.

• Canadian Customs Tariff (CBSA)

  Canada’s official tariff schedule landing area, including how tariff treatments and duty rates are organized. Use this as the authoritative reference for classification and duty-rate work.

• Canada Tariff Finder

  A practical tool for estimating tariffs and exploring preferential rates under Canada’s trade agreements. Great for pre-sales quoting, lane planning, and “does an FTA rate apply?” checks.

Trade agreements (Canada-facing)

• Canada trade agreements & negotiations (Global Affairs)

  Canada’s official master hub for agreements (in force, signed, negotiated, etc.). Use this as the top-level directory before linking to specific agreement pages.

• CUSMA (Canada–U.S.–Mexico)

  Official CUSMA portal for agreement text and Canada’s supporting materials. Useful for rules of origin, preferential claims, and cross-border compliance planning.

• CETA (Canada–EU)

  Official CETA portal for agreement text and explanatory resources. Especially useful when planning EU-bound exports and preferential tariff treatment eligibility.

• CPTPP

  Canada’s CPTPP hub covering the Asia-Pacific trade bloc and supporting resources. Useful for tariff planning and origin strategy across multiple member countries.

• Canada–UK Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA)

  Canada’s official TCA page for trade continuity between Canada and the UK. Helpful for understanding tariff treatment and continuity rules post-Brexit.

• Canada–Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA)

  Canada’s official CKFTA resource hub for Korea trade rules and benefits. Useful for shippers and forwarders working Korea lanes and preferential claims.

Safety / regulated goods

• Transport Canada — Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)

  Canada’s main hub for TDG program information, guidance, and compliance resources. Useful for classification, documentation, training expectations, and enforcement references.

• CFIA — Importing food into Canada

  CFIA guidance on importing food products into Canada, including licensing and regulatory requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians framework. Useful for avoiding holds and inspection surprises.

United States

• CBP Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

  The primary U.S. trade processing system for import/export data and CBP interactions. Essential for understanding the “system of record” used across many U.S. clearance workflows.

• USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)

  Official U.S. tariff schedule used to determine duty rates and classification. Useful for quoting, entry preparation, and audit-proof classification references.

• Importer Security Filing (ISF “10+2”)

  CBP’s ocean security filing requirement for imports by vessel, including timing and required data elements. Key reference for ocean forwarders/importers coordinating supplier data handoffs.

• Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) — OTI licensing

  FMC information on licensing and compliance for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (freight forwarders and NVOCCs). Useful for verifying licensing requirements and understanding OTI obligations.

• PHMSA Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR)

  PHMSA hub for the U.S. hazardous materials regulatory framework. Useful for U.S.-regulated DG moves, packaging/marking rules, and hazmat compliance program references.

• FMCSA Regulations (commercial trucking)

  FMCSA’s regulatory hub covering safety, operations, and compliance for U.S. commercial motor carriers. Useful for cross-border trucking operations touching U.S. HOS and safety requirements.

• Consolidated Screening List (CSL)

  U.S. government consolidated restricted-party list search resource. Useful for first-pass denied-party screening workflows and compliance documentation.

• OFAC Sanctions List Search

  U.S. Treasury sanctions search tool used to check names/entities against U.S. sanctions lists. Useful for operational screening and documenting due diligence.

• C-TPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism)

  CBP’s supply chain security partnership program. Useful for understanding how trusted-trader security standards impact facilitation, audits, and partner requirements.

• BIS (Export Administration Regulations – EAR)

  U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security hub for export controls (EAR). Useful for determining if U.S.-origin goods/technology require export licenses or special controls.

• DDTC (ITAR)

  U.S. State Department directorate responsible for defense trade controls (ITAR). Useful when shipments involve defense articles/services or controlled technical data.

European Union

• Access2Markets

  EU portal for tariffs, procedures, rules of origin, and product/market requirements by destination. A practical “what do I need to do to import/export this?” reference.

• EU Customs Tariff (TARIC)

  The integrated EU tariff database showing tariff measures, duty rates, and restrictions. Useful for classification validation and checking measures that apply to EU imports/exports.

• Union Customs Code (UCC)

  The EU’s core legal framework governing customs rules and procedures. Useful for deeper questions on customs obligations, guarantees, special procedures, and compliance responsibilities.

• Import Control System 2 (ICS2)

  EU’s advance cargo information system focused on safety and security risk analysis. Important for ENS requirements and for carriers/logistics providers moving goods to or through the EU.

• EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification)

  EU identifier used by businesses for customs-related activities. Useful when onboarding shippers/importers and validating that parties can lodge declarations in the EU.

• AEO (Authorised Economic Operator)

  Trusted-trader authorization used to improve supply chain security and facilitate legitimate trade. Useful when shippers ask about compliance programs that reduce friction and improve predictability.

• TRACES NT

  EU platform used for certain SPS/official certificate workflows (food, plant, animal, and regulated goods). Useful for regulated cargo planning and avoiding border inspection delays.

United Kingdom

• UK Trade Tariff

  The UK’s official tariff information and commodity code lookup. Use this for duty rates, measures, and documentation requirements for UK imports/exports.

• Customs Declaration Service (CDS)

  HMRC’s collection hub for CDS guidance and related materials. Useful for understanding UK declaration processes, finance accounts, and operational filing requirements.

• Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS)

  UK system that bundles declaration references into a single goods movement reference (GMR) for certain ports/flows. Essential for road freight and ro-ro movements between GB and the EU/NI flows where GVMS applies.

• IPAFFS (animals, food, feed)

  UK system and guidance for importing products of animal origin and other regulated SPS goods. Useful for refrigerated and regulated food lanes and avoiding border control holds.

• UK sanctions hub

  Central GOV.UK collection for sanctions guidance and updates. Use this as the UK starting point for sanctions compliance resources.

• The UK Sanctions List

  The official UK list of designated persons/entities and applicable measures. Useful for screening and understanding which restrictions apply to a given designation.

• OFSI consolidated list search

  Search interface for UK financial sanctions targets used for operational checks. Helpful for evidence capture and consistent screening workflows.

Asia-Pacific customs portals

• China Customs (GACC) — English

  Official China Customs portal (English) for news and access to key customs information. A practical starting point for China-bound compliance research.

• China International Trade Single Window

  China’s single window access point used for various import/export reporting workflows. Useful for teams coordinating China clearance and electronic submissions.

• Japan Customs — English

  Japan Customs’ English portal for procedures and key customs information. Useful for documentation expectations and process overviews for Japan lanes.

• Japan NACCS (air/sea electronic processing)

  NACCS supports electronic processing of air/sea cargo procedures connected to customs and port operations. Useful for teams interfacing with Japan’s electronic clearance ecosystem.

• Korea Customs Service — English

  Korea Customs portal (English) for guidance and updates. Useful for procedural references and baseline compliance for Korea lanes.

• UNI-PASS (Korea customs solution)

  UNI-PASS is the customs clearance solution used by Korea Customs and implemented/benchmarked by multiple countries. Helpful as context when working with Korea-origin systems and integrations.

• Singapore Customs

  Singapore Customs’ official site for compliance and facilitation information. Useful for one of the region’s major logistics hubs and transshipment lanes.

• Singapore Networked Trade Platform (NTP)

  Singapore’s National Single Window ecosystem owned/operated by Singapore Customs. Useful for understanding digital trade transactions and regulator connectivity in Singapore.

• TradeNet (Singapore National Single Window)

  TradeNet is the platform used for Singapore trade declarations. Include this for practical “where to declare” references for Singapore-bound flows.

• Hong Kong — Import/Export Declarations

  Official Hong Kong guidance on import/export declarations and related charges/rules. Useful for compliance checks when routing cargo through Hong Kong.

• India ICEGATE (Indian Customs EDI Gateway)

  India’s main electronic gateway for customs e-filing and related services. Useful for import/export filing workflows and connecting to India customs services.

• Australia — Integrated Cargo System (ICS)

  Australia’s single system for managing imports and exports and processing cargo-related information. Useful for operational references and system connection guidance.

• New Zealand Customs Service

  New Zealand Customs’ official site for border processes, rules, and operational guidance. Useful for NZ import/export compliance and lane setup references.

• Thailand Customs Department

  Thailand’s official customs portal with announcements and procedural guidance. Useful for SEA lane work and local compliance references.

• Vietnam Customs

  Vietnam’s official customs portal for regulations and updates. Useful for SEA trade lanes and staying aligned with local procedure changes.

Modes & operational compliance

Dangerous goods & safety

• UN Model Regulations (Dangerous Goods)

  The UN baseline model that influences DG rules across modes and jurisdictions. Useful as a foundation when mapping road/air/ocean DG requirements for a specific shipment.

• ADR (DG by road)

  Key agreement governing international carriage of dangerous goods by road in many countries. Useful for road legs in multimodal moves across ADR-participating jurisdictions.

• IMO — IMDG Code (DG by sea)

  IMO’s official portal for dangerous goods shipped by sea under the IMDG Code framework. Use this for ocean DG fundamentals and official code context.

• SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass)

  Official IMO guidance on VGM requirements for packed containers. Important for avoiding terminal holds and vessel cutoff issues on containerized exports.

• ICAO — Dangerous goods by air

  ICAO hub for dangerous goods requirements in international air transport. Useful for high-level regulatory reference and compliance alignment for air DG programs.

• IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) overview

  Industry-facing overview of IATA DGR used operationally by airlines and shippers. Useful for understanding how air DG is applied in practice alongside ICAO rules.

Maritime security & container operations

• IMO ISPS Code

  IMO’s security framework for ships and port facilities, foundational to maritime security compliance. Useful for understanding port security expectations and ship/terminal responsibilities.

• IMO — Container weight verification (related guidance)

  Additional IMO references around container weight verification and safety. Useful when documenting SOPs for shippers and warehouses that load export containers.

Food / plants / regulated cargo

• IPPC ePhyto

  Electronic phytosanitary certificate exchange framework for plant-related shipments. Useful for producers/exporters and forwarders moving regulated plant products across borders.

• CITES permit system

  Explains the permitting system controlling trade in protected species and certain derivatives. Useful for quickly checking whether wildlife/plant products may require permits.

Sanctions & screening

• UN Security Council Consolidated Sanctions List

  The UN’s consolidated list of individuals and entities subject to Security Council sanctions. Useful for global baseline screening in addition to country-specific lists.

• EU Sanctions Map

  Interactive EU tool for viewing sanctions regimes and measures. Useful for quick jurisdictional awareness before deeper screening and legal review.

• Canada — Consolidated sanctions list

  Canada’s consolidated autonomous sanctions list used for screening and due diligence workflows. Useful for documenting compliance checks for Canada-linked transactions.

• U.S. OFAC sanctions search

  Search tool for U.S. sanctions lists, used widely for operational compliance checks. Useful for screening counterparties when U.S. nexus or USD payments are involved.

• U.S. Consolidated Screening List (CSL)

  Aggregates multiple U.S. restricted-party lists for screening. Useful as a centralized “first pass” before escalation to compliance/legal.

• UK sanctions hub

  UK’s central guidance collection for sanctions and updates. Useful for program context, policy updates, and links to official lists/search tools.

• UK OFSI sanctions search

  Search tool for UK financial sanctions targets used for operational screening. Useful for consistent checks and audit-friendly screening evidence.

Industry bodies & training

• CIFFA (Canada)

  Canadian association for freight forwarders with training and professional resources. Useful for staff upskilling, industry standards, and credibility references.

• FIATA (Global)

  The global federation representing freight forwarder associations. Useful as a “global industry anchor” for standards, advocacy, and professional context.

• IATA (Air transport)

  The main international airline association with standards and operational guidance for air cargo. Useful for air freight programs and compliance-facing documentation.

• BIMCO (Ocean contracts & clauses)

  Major maritime association known for standard contracts/clauses and operational guidance. Useful for ocean-facing legal/ops references and standardized wording.

• IRU (Road transport)

  Global road transport organization connected to cross-border trucking frameworks and trade facilitation initiatives. Useful for road-freight audiences and border process context.