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ServicesHighNAICS 4841

Logistics & Cross-Border Transportation

Freight Transportation|Updated 2025-04-15
Tariff impact score
68/100
GDP contribution
$25B
Employment
220,000 direct jobs
Trade flow
Balanced
US trade exposure
60% of revenue from cross-border freight
Tariff impact score68
KEY PRODUCTS
  • Cross-border trucking
  • Rail freight services
  • Customs brokerage
  • Freight forwarding
  • Warehousing and distribution
  • Intermodal logistics
AFFECTED TARIFF CODES

No specific tariff codes identified.

MITIGATION STRATEGIES
  1. 1

    Invest in border crossing infrastructure and preclearance technology

  2. 2

    Develop multimodal logistics capabilities for supply chain resilience

  3. 3

    Expand customs brokerage and trade compliance services as trade complexity increases

  4. 4

    Invest in fleet electrification and sustainable transportation credentials

  5. 5

    Advocate for trusted trader programs and expedited customs processing

CUSMA IMPACT

CUSMA maintains cabotage restrictions that limit Canadian trucking firms' ability to carry domestic US loads, constraining operational efficiency. Cross-border trucking operates under bilateral operating authority agreements that can be subject to regulatory tightening. Any increase in customs complexity from tariff changes directly increases logistics costs and border crossing times.

SUPPLY CHAIN RISK

Border crossing delays at key chokepoints (Ambassador Bridge, Peace Bridge, Pacific Highway) cascade through just-in-time supply chains. Driver shortages affect both Canadian and US trucking capacity, with immigration restrictions limiting labour mobility. Infrastructure capacity constraints at rail border crossings limit throughput growth for intermodal freight.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Canadian logistics firms (TFI International, CN, CP Kansas City) compete with US-based carriers and global logistics providers. CPKC's single-line network spanning Canada, the US, and Mexico creates a unique CUSMA-corridor competitive advantage. Cross-border logistics expertise and customs brokerage capabilities provide differentiation against US-domestic competitors.

OUTLOOK

Cross-border logistics is both a beneficiary and victim of trade dynamics—any increase in tariffs or customs requirements increases demand for logistics services but also increases costs and complexity. The sector's growth tracks North American trade volumes. CPKC's continental rail network represents a strategic advantage that no competitor can replicate.

OTHER INDUSTRIES IN SERVICES
Banking & InsuranceLow

Financial Services

20/100$85B
Engineering ServicesLow

Engineering & Consulting Services

24/100$18B

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