UConnect Portal Upgrade - Smarter, Faster, and More Powerful than Ever
We’re excited to announce the latest upgrade to UConnect – our advanced Shipment Portal – now offering a smarter, more streamlined experience for tracking shipments, managing customs entries, and meeting compliance requirements across all modes of transport.
What is UConnect?
UConnect is a web-based solution that delivers an at-a-glance overview of your shipments and customs entries.
Why It Matters
In today’s increasingly complex trade environment, importers and exporters need more than just shipment tracking – they need tools to collect data, generate reports, and maintain full customs compliance.
UConnect offers exactly that, with powerful features that help you stay ahead.
Key Features at Your Fingertips
📄 Document Management & Imaging
- Gain full visibility to the complete customs package, including vendor-supplied commercial documents.
- Access the CAD (Commercial Accounting Declaration) coding form, Canada Customs Invoices, bills of lading, and certificates of origin – all on line.
- Enhance your audit process with complete, organized records.
📊 Customized Tracking & Reporting
- Get real-time shipment status: Released, Not Released, Delivered, In Motion, or Missing Info.
- Search shipments by multiple criteria and create customized PDF or CSV reports on demand – including CAD Data Tracking and Free Trade Gain Detail.
💳 E-Billing
- View billing invoices online, complete with customs entries, supporting documents, and commercial invoices.
How to Access UConnect
You can access the upgraded UConnect Shipment Portal anytime through our web site’s Main Menu – simply click on the “UConnect” button on the top right side of the web site header, which will take you to the “UConnect” page. Here you can log into your existing account or Sign Up now!
The Bottom Line
The upgraded UConnect Shipment Portal is more intuitive, more powerful, and better equipped to help you manage shipments, stay compliant, and streamline operations. Whether you’re monitoring trends, auditing entries, or pulling reports, UConnect brings everything together in one place – saving you time and giving you clarity.
Cargo Insurance – Safeguarding Your Business Against Shipping Risks
Global trade offers immense opportunities for businesses, but it also comes with unavoidable risks. Whether goods are shipped by land, sea, or air, there is always the chance of damage, loss, or theft during transit.
For companies that rely on the safe and timely delivery of shipments, cargo insurance is not just a good idea — it’s an essential strategy for risk management. Whenever booking freight with Universal Logistics, ask about cargo insurance. We can help you find the best match between your needs and the available cargo insurance coverage options, with the sole purpose of protecting your interests and limiting risks when shipping.
Complete Protection Beyond Carrier Liability
Many businesses mistakenly assume that carriers will fully cover any losses if something goes wrong. In reality, carrier liability is extremely limited. Compensation from carriers is often calculated by weight or volume, not the actual value of the goods, leaving shippers exposed to substantial losses.
Cargo insurance, by contrast, provides total coverage. A typical policy insures not only the commercial invoice value of the shipment but also freight costs, with an additional margin of 10% to cover incidental or unforeseen expenses. This ensures businesses are not left absorbing the financial hit when unexpected disruptions occur.
Faster and Easier Claims Settlement
The claims process following a shipping incident can be complex, involving multiple parties such as carriers, freight forwarders and ports. Without dedicated support, it can drag on for months. When you arrange your own cargo insurance, the provider takes ownership of coordinating with all parties to expedite the settlement. This not only reduces administrative burden but also ensures businesses are reimbursed quickly, allowing them to resume operations without lengthy financial interruptions.
Protection from General Average – A Hidden Risk
One of the least understood yet most financially dangerous risks in maritime transport is “general average”. This principle of maritime law requires all cargo owners on a vessel to share in the costs of saving the ship if extraordinary measures are taken, such as jettisoning cargo or firefighting at sea. Without cargo insurance, businesses may be forced to pay significant sums to cover damages unrelated to their own goods. Insured shippers, however, are protected — their insurer assumes this risk, shielding them from catastrophic costs that can cripple operations.
Retaining Control Over Coverage
Another often-overlooked advantage of arranging your own insurance is control. By doing so, shippers can ensure policies are tailored to their exact needs rather than relying on carrier-provided coverage that may not fully align with their risk exposure. This control ensures complete transparency, proper limits of coverage, and peace of mind.
The Business Case for Cargo Insurance
In an increasingly uncertain global shipping environment, cargo insurance represents more than just protection. It is a strategic investment that safeguards profits, preserves customer relationships and allows businesses to operate with confidence. Choosing to arrange your own insurance is the best way to minimize risk, protect your assets and ensure continuity in your supply chain.
Bottom Line: For companies engaged in international trade, cargo insurance is not an optional add-on — it is a crucial tool for financial protection and long-term success. So, remember to ask us about cargo insurance options and pricing to ensure your freight is protected as well as having full visibility in the event of a claim, as we will act as your single point of contact, simplifying and expediting the process.
Celebrating Turf Care’s 50th Anniversary
On August 27, 2025, John Leis, Director – Client Relations, Ivy Woo, Manager – Customs Consulting Services and Lukas Hamann, Manager – Border Clearances represented Universal Logistics at a celebration of Turf Care Products Canada Limited’s 50th anniversary.
During their visit, our team had a chance to tour Turf Care’s new state-of-the-art service facility in Keswick, Ontario and to view the latest equipment in action!
Lunch and refreshments were served while the Universal team had a chance to connect with many of our contacts at Turf Care, namely Turf Care’s President Tim Trimper, Harold Perrault, Devon Jarvis and Christina Mifflin.
Following this special occasion, Mr. Leis commented, “To be invited by our friends at Turf Care to help celebrate this milestone 50th successful year in business, while being afforded the chance to tour their incredible new service facility, was both an honour and an absolute pleasure! We wish Turf Care many years of continued growth and success!”
Steel and Aluminum Import Requirements for Canada & the U.S.
With the number of recent changes to steel import requirements into both Canada and the U.S., here’s a comprehensive outline of the latest information:
Imports into Canada
Although most Retaliatory Tariffs applied against the U.S. have been removed, effective September 1, 2025, there still remain tariffs on a number of US made products (steel, aluminum and automotive), regardless of whether or not CUSMA/USMCA is applicable.
- Complete list of U.S. products subject to counter tariffs may be found here.
- Refer to the “Effective September 1, 2025” tab to search by HS tariff classification of those goods still subject to a 25% Retaliatory Tariff
The Government of Canada has introduced additional surtaxes to address the risk of steel trade diversion from third countries into the Canadian market due to restrictive trade measures taken by the United States, notably through its imposition of tariffs on steel under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Customs Notice 25-24: Order Imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods (effective June 27, 2025)
- Application: Certain steel goods imported into Canada are subject to a surtax in the amount of 50% of the value for duty. Goods originating in Canada, the United States, or Mexico are not subject to this surtax and are excluded from the determination of the quantity of goods imported.
- Permits: Importers must have a shipment-specific permit to declare the importation is under the Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ) and is not subject to the surtax. This permit must be valid at the time the goods are accounted for under the Customs Act.
- Import permits will not be issued once the quantities indicated in Schedule 1 to the Order have been reached, therefore surtax will be payable.
- Shipments with no permit at the time of accounting, will have surtax payable.
The TRQ will be put in place for the duration of one year, from June 27, 2025, to June 26, 2026. Reports, updated daily, from Global Affairs Canada on steel TRQ utilization are available here.
Customs Notice 25-28: Steel Goods and Aluminum Goods Surtax Order (effective July 31, 2025)
- Application: Certain steel goods imported into Canada, and containing steel melted and poured in China, as well as certain aluminum goods imported into Canada and containing aluminum smelted and cast in China, are subject to a surtax in the amount of 25% of the value for duty.
- Steel and aluminum goods that originate in the United States, as determined in accordance with the Determination of Country of Origin for the Purpose of Marking Goods (CUSMA Countries) Regulations, are not subject to the surtax.
- Steel and aluminum goods for which the cumulative value for duty of all goods subject to the Steel Goods and Aluminum Goods Surtax Order and accounted for under a single Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) does not exceed $5,000 are not subject to the surtax.
- Documentation requirements: For the purposes of demonstrating that the country of melt and pour (COM) or country of smelt and cast (CSC) is not China, importers must be in possession of one of the following documents effective September 22, 2025, otherwise the importer will be required to pay the applicable surtax. Documentation acceptable to prove COM and CSC:
- Mill test certificate
- Material test certificate
- Certificate of conformance
- Certificate of compliance
- Certificate of inspection
- Certificate of analysis
- Certified inspection certificate
- Metallurgical test certificate
- Chemical analysis certificate
- Documentation requirements: For the purposes of demonstrating that the country of melt and pour (COM) or country of smelt and cast (CSC) is not China, importers must be in possession of one of the following documents effective September 22, 2025, otherwise the importer will be required to pay the applicable surtax. Documentation acceptable to prove COM and CSC:
Imports into USA
The White House issued their fact sheet on President Trump’s restoration of the Section 232 Tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum on February 11, 2025. Since then, a number of additions to the list of affect products have been implemented:
- February 11, 2025: Proclamation 10895 Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States
Proclamation 10896 Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States
- Both proclamations introduced an additional 25% duty on goods under the affected HTS lists as provided by the proclamations and updated guidance.
- June 3, 2025: A new Executive Order increased the tariff rate for steel and aluminum articles, and their derivative items, from the above proclamations to 50% (except UK country of origin products which remain at 25%).
- August 18, 2025: An additional list of steel and aluminum derivative tariff codes were added.
Section 232 FAQs by US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)
Proclamation 10895 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States) and further guidance key takeaways
- US Customs requires the aluminum content value to be reported along with the aluminum content weight, country of primary smelt, country of secondary smelt (as applicable) and country of casting.
- The value of the aluminum content should be determined in accordance with the principles of the Customs Valuation Agreement, as implemented in 19 U.S.C. 1401a. Thus, the value of the aluminum content is the total price paid or payable for that content.
- Primary Country of Smelt Code: ISO country code where the largest volume of new aluminum metal is produced from alumina (or aluminum oxide) by the electrolytic Hall-Héroult process.
- Secondary Country of Smelt Code: ISO country code where the second largest volume of new aluminum metal is produced from alumina (or aluminum oxide) by the electrolytic Hall-Héroult process.
- Country of Cast Code: ISO country code where the aluminum (with/without alloying elements) was last liquified by heat and cast into a solid state. The final solid state can take the form of either a semi-finished product (slab, billets or ingots), or a finished aluminum product.
- United States country of smelt/cast aluminum is exempt from Section 232 duties.
- United States country of origin products are not subject to Section 232 duties.
- United Kingdom country of origin products are subject to a reduced Section 232 duty rate of 25%.
- Russian country of smelt/cast aluminum is subject to an increased Section 232 duty rate of 200%.
- Important! Unknown country of smelt/cast aluminum will be subject to the increased Section 232 duty rate of 200% imposed on Russian smelt/cast aluminum.
Proclamation 10896 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States) and further guidance key takeaways:
- US Customs requires the steel content value to be reported along with the steel content weight and the country of melt and pour.
- The value of the steel content should be determined in accordance with the principles of the Customs Valuation Agreement, as implemented in 19 U.S.C. 1401a. Thus, the value of the steel content is the total price paid or payable for that content.
- Melt and Pour Country Code: ISO country code where steel was originally melted. Country of melt and pour refers to the original location where the raw steel is first produced in a steel-making furnace in a liquid state, and then poured into its first solid shape. The first solid state can take the form of either a semi-finished product (slab, billets, or ingots), or a finished steel mill product. The location of melt and pour is customarily identified on mill test certificates that are common place in steel production, generated at each stage of the production process, and maintained in the ordinary course of business.
- Steel melted and poured in the US is exempt from Section 232 duties.
- Products made in the US are exempt from Section 232 duties.
- United Kingdom country of origin products are subject to a reduced Section 232 duty rate of 25%.
- Unknown country of melt and pour steel, are subject to 50% duty rate on the steel content value (or 25% if UK country of origin).
Importers must ensure the applicable country of melt and pour (for steel) and/or country of smelt and cast (for aluminum), along with metal content values, are available on import documentation in order to avoid delays and import entry adjustments post-clearance.
For more information, contact Brian Rowe, Director – Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs.
Time to renew blanket CUSMA/USMCA Origin Declarations
Don’t forget to get your Blanket CUSMA/USMCA Origin Declarations renewed for 2026. Or simplify your life by taking advantage of our CUSMA/USMCA Management Service, the fast, easy way to ensure your CUSMA/USMCA Origin Declarations are fully compliant.
This is important because significant AMPS (Administrative Monetary Penalty System) transactional penalties could apply if you make a claim for preferential treatment without a valid CUSMA/USMCA Origin Declaration.
Get started now by forwarding your 2026 Blanket CUSMA/USMCA Origin Declarations to fta@universallogistics.ca or contact Ivy Woo, Manager – Customs Consulting Services, for more information.
U.S. Imposes New Fees on Chinese-Built and Operated Vessels
A Global Trade Game-Changer
The shipping industry is preparing for a significant shake-up. Beginning October 14, 2025, the United States will introduce a new system of port fees aimed at vessels built, owned or operated by Chinese entities.
The move is intended to address perceived unfair advantages in China’s shipbuilding sector and strengthen the US maritime industry, but it also has the potential to significantly alter global shipping patterns.
The Fee Structure in Detail
The U.S. government has outlined a tiered approach to the new charges:
- Chinese-Owned or Operated Vessels: A base fee of US$50 per net ton will be introduced, gradually increasing to US$140 per net ton by 2028. This fee applies once per vessel rotation, meaning a string of port calls within the same journey is only charged once.
- Chinese-Built Vessels (Regardless of Ownership): Ships built in Chinese shipyards but operated by non-Chinese companies will still face charges. These will start at US$18 per net ton or US$120 per container and rise to as much as US$33 per net ton or US$250 per container by 2028.
- Exemptions: Some categories of vessels, such as those operating in short-haul trades, smaller ships, or those transporting commodities like coal or grain exclusively, may be exempt.
Non-compliance comes with severe consequences. Vessels that fail to pay may be barred from cargo operations or even prevented from departing US ports.
Why the U.S. Is Taking This Step
The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on Chinese-built ships, counter state subsidies that support China’s dominance in global shipbuilding and encourage investment in American shipyards. Washington hopes the policy will create a more level playing field for U.S. operators and help revitalize the domestic maritime sector, which has long struggled against cheaper foreign competition.
Impact on the Shipping Industry
While the policy’s goals may be domestic, its effects will ripple globally:
- Higher Shipping Costs: Shipping lines are expected to pass these additional fees down the chain to importers and exporters, ultimately raising consumer prices. For industries heavily reliant on ocean transport, this could mean substantial increases in costs.
- Route and Vessel Adjustments: Carriers may begin to divert vessels away from US ports to avoid the charges, reshaping trade routes and possibly reducing port traffic in some areas. Smaller U.S. ports could lose business as lines seek more cost-efficient alternatives.
- Supply Chain Disruption: Importers and exporters may need to re-evaluate logistics strategies, warehouse networks, and sourcing decisions to adapt to the changing cost structures.
- Inflationary Pressures: As higher transportation costs are passed on to product pricing, inflation may rise across multiple sectors.
- Geopolitical Uncertainty: The measure is almost certain to escalate tensions between the U.S. and China, raising the possibility of retaliatory trade actions, legal disputes, and prolonged uncertainty for the maritime industry.
A New Era in US Maritime Policy
This fee system represents a significant shift in U.S. trade strategy. While intended to strengthen the American maritime sector, it could also challenge the efficiency of global shipping and alter long-standing supply chain patterns.
Bottom Line: For businesses, these changes mean preparing now for higher costs, shifting trade routes, and increased geopolitical risks. The U.S. is clearly signaling a commitment to reshaping the balance of power in global shipping — and companies involved in international trade must be ready to navigate the turbulence ahead.
For more information, contact Monserrat Vazquez, Manager – Freight Solutions.
Global Spotlight Quiz
Name this major container port in India
- Also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port or JNPT.
- Consists of a full-fledged customs house, 30 container freight stations and connectivity to 52 inland container depots across the country.
- Handles the majority of India’s containerized trade, with a significant volume of cargo destined for North America, Europe and Asia.
- Key industries relying on this port include textiles, automotive, electronics and pharmaceuticals.
Answer: Nhava Sheva, India
For more information about shipping freight to or from this city, contact Monserrat Vazquez, Manager – Freight Solutions.
Quick Tip
If you’re not able to control your freight, you should at least know who to contact if something goes wrong
Remember, you are always free to appoint someone locally to monitor and handle shipments on your behalf, even when your supplier has made the freight arrangements.
At Your Service
Canadian & US Customs Consulting Services Teams
Rapidly changing and sometimes ambiguous trade policies, like recent tariff announcements, make it difficult for businesses to interpret and implement new customs rules, creating significant compliance challenges.
Our expert Canadian and US Customs Consulting Services teams provide personalized solutions to meet your specific needs. From tariff classification and duty minimization to compliance with CBSA and US Customs regulations, we help businesses avoid costly delays and penalties.
These teams are responsible for consulting on all aspects of the USA/Canada Trade War, Steel and Aluminum Tariffs, Reciprocal Tariffs, and the list goes on, in addition to the regular services our clients have come to count on like HS Tariff Classification, Database Maintenance, Free Trade Agreement Management, Customs Audit Support and other technical customs issues.
USA – Cody Keser, Team Leader – Customs Consulting Services (USA); Matthew Williamson
SMART Logistics
Controlling how freight moves through your supply chain could save you thousands – or more.
Working with us means someone always asks: how can we make this shipment better?
Single-sourced trucking, customs clearance and distribution to expedite your freight shipments between the U.S. and Canada.
Route is produced monthly for the clients of Universal Logistics. Reader comment and story ideas are welcome. Comments of general interest to all Route readers will, with the permission of the writer, be published. Copyright © 2025 Universal Logistics Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction for any commercial use is strictly prohibited.
Route is produced by Universal Logistics. Editor: Bettina Scharnberg. Email: bscharnberg@universallogistics.ca While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information contained herein, Universal Logistics accepts no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions. Written correspondence should be forwarded to:
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