Canada border agent strike action update

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), representing the officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), voted for a strike mandate against the Government of Canada in April. Following the release of a report from Canada’s Public Interest Commission (PIC) on May 29, which includes non-binding recommendations for a new collective agreement, the PSAC is now positioned to initiate a legal strike as of Thursday, June 6, subject to a 72-hour notice. Mediation sessions are set to commence on June 3.

A strike could disrupt daily cross-border trade from the U.S. into Canada, affecting supply chains and causing delays at land crossings, airports, and ports. However, the flow of goods into the U.S. is expected to face limited impact, as Canadian export declarations are not required for commercial goods moving from Canada to U.S. final destinations.

The Canadian government has indicated that 90% of front-line border staff are considered essential and are required to work during a strike. However, agents could conduct a “work-to-rule” campaign, as occurred in 2021, which slowed operations and caused delays for commercial truckers entering Canada at major crossings.

Most Canadian customs entries are filed electronically and automatically receive a release as long as the entry passes system validation. In the event of a strike, delays are possible, particularly for goods requiring manual processing.

Ocean entries will face minimal impact unless flagged for inspection, examination, or manual officer review. There are no changes to scheduled sailings at this time. Please visit Maersk.com for schedule details or contact your account representative for additional information.

The Maersk-Canada team will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary or if the situation further develops.