Breanna Leininger, who runs U.S. operations for Pacific Customs Brokers and serves about 5,000 customers, says officials now ask for ten times more documentation than a few years ago. She adds that customs officers are conducting deeper reviews of entries almost every day, whereas such checks were rare a few years back.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection data show that the number of audits this year is on track to rise 26 % compared with 2024. In the first half of the year, customs collected $70.6 million in trade penalties – a 169 % increase over the whole of 2024.

Alan Dewar, executive vice‑president of Winnipeg‑based brokerage GHY, explains that the extra hold‑ups force drivers to wait overnight, raise warehouse costs and risk product spoilage. The added delays also generate service charges when deliveries miss promised time windows.

For importers, the stricter border regime means higher shipping expenses, longer transit times and more paperwork, which can discourage cross‑border trade altogether.