Our Mission
To protect our clients' brand and revenue by maximizing their Trade Compliance and minimizing their landed costs.
We are transparent, resourceful, and a trusted voice for trade chain partners engaging with Canada Border Services Agency and other government departments that impact trade.
We create the environment for individuals and businesses to grow and thrive.
How We Work
Four principles have defined Dominion Customs Solutions' work since 1981, and they still define it today.
Independence That Works Exclusively For You
Our unbiased perspective helps uncover hidden duty recovery opportunities, strengthen compliance, improve processes, and reduce risk. By challenging assumptions and evaluating your customs program through an independent lens, we deliver practical solutions that enhance profitability and supply chain performance.
For more than four decades, organizations across Canada have trusted Dominion for one reason: our commitment to protecting our clients' bottom line.
Rulings-Based Recovery
Every refund we recover is, where applicable, protected by a binding CBSA ruling. We take a compliance based approach to duty recovery. The ruling first methodology is why our clients save more in future overpayments than we recover for them today.
Transparency and Risk-Free Engagement
At Dominion Customs Consultants, transparency and accountability are at the heart of every client engagement. We believe importers deserve clear communication, and straightforward support and that's why we explain every recommendation, keep you informed at every stage, and ensure there are no hidden surprises. Our risk-free engagement approach aligns our success with yours, allowing you to explore duty recovery opportunities and discuss your customs compliance concerns with confidence.
By combining independent expertise, transparent reporting, and client-focused service, Dominion helps organizations reduce customs risk, recover overpaid duties, and improve long-term trade compliance.
Technology-Enabled Solutions
Forty-five years of customs expertise is no longer enough on its own. Today's trade environment — escalating tariff complexity, evolving customs regulations, and heightened compliance scrutiny — demands more than periodic consulting engagements. That's why we are evolving from a consulting-led model into a solutions-driven partner, pairing our deep trade expertise with AI-powered analytics, automation, and centralized trade visibility. The result is continuous monitoring and data-driven insight that surfaces hidden savings, mitigates tariff exposure, and turns compliance from a reactive obligation into a durable competitive advantage.
Our History
1981
The Beginning
John Preston (JP) and Arthur Briggs (Art) met in the 1970s while working at the same customs brokerage operation. They shared a belief, and the data to support it, that Canadian importers were paying significantly more in duties and taxes than they owed. In 1981, they left the brokerage industry and founded Dominion Customs Consultants, pioneering the duty recovery industry for importers in Canada. (The firm rebranded to Dominion Customs Solutions Inc. to reflect the broader, outcome-driven nature of the work the team does today.)
From day one, Art and JP recognized that recovering duties was important, but protecting clients from future reassessment was equally important. The conservative, rulings-based approach they built into the firm's DNA is still how we operate forty-four years later.
1990
Sales Tax Recovery
With the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax in 1991, Canadian importers began asking how to recover overpaid GST the same way they recovered overpaid duty. Art and JP responded by founding Dominion Sales Tax Consultants Inc., extending the recovery methodology to the new tax regime. (This sister entity is now part of the Dominion Customs Solutions group.)
2000
Trade Compliance Solutions
As the 1990s ended, our clients' needs evolved from simply protecting revenue to protecting their brand. Importers were running internal reviews and identifying the need for stronger compliance infrastructure. Art and JP assembled a team of customs industry experts and created Dominion Customs Solutions' Trade Compliance Department, built around three objectives that still guide the team today: understand the regulations better than the policymakers who wrote them, develop compliance solutions that match the rigour of our recovery work, and minimize client risk of customs non-compliance.
2010
Going Global
As technology opened global e-commerce and supply chains became multi-jurisdictional, our clients turned to us to help develop, integrate, and execute duty recovery and Trade Compliance solutions across multiple countries. Our conservative, ruling-based, brand-first approach scaled with them.
2020
The Next Chapter
Today's global trade environment demands more than reactive consulting. Companies navigating rising tariff complexity, evolving customs regulations, and heightened compliance scrutiny need scalable, technology-enabled solutions that deliver measurable financial outcomes with speed and precision. The volatility of the current Canada–US trade environment has produced the highest demand for customs expertise in our forty-four-year history — and it is reshaping what that expertise has to look like.
Our Founders
John Preston
Founder & CEO
As the CEO and co-founder of our company, I've had the privilege of guiding its growth since Art Briggs and I first opened our doors in 1981.
As the CEO and co-founder of our company, I've had the privilege of guiding its growth since Art Briggs and I first opened our doors in 1981. Both Art and I came from the customs brokerage industry, bringing complementary strengths that shaped the foundation of our business — Art with a deep focus on operations, and myself with a passion for sales and client relationships.
My career in the industry began in 1971 when I became a licensed customs broker. One of my early accomplishments was programming the first computer ever used to create a customs entry in 1972 — a milestone that helped modernize processes that had been entirely manual up to that point. That experience cemented my belief in innovation grounded in practicality and integrity.
From the beginning, we built the company on a highly conservative approach and a firm commitment to operating ethically on behalf of our clients. Those principles have guided every decision we've made and remain central to how we conduct business today.
Although Art passed away five years ago, his influence, innovation, and dedication continue to shape the way we operate. The values we established together remain at the heart of the company.
Over the years, our partnership has grown into a thriving organization supported by an exceptional management team. They handle the day-to-day sales and operations, and are instrumental in guiding Dominion Customs Solutions into future innovation, while I continue to oversee the financial direction of the company, ensuring stability, smart investment, and long-term sustainability.
Outside of work, I enjoy bridge and golf — pursuits that reflect both strategy and camaraderie. I've also had the honour of serving as President of York Downs Golf & Country Club, along with holding several other executive positions within the club.
More than four decades later, I'm proud of the team we've built, the relationships we've earned, and the reputation we continue to uphold. Our success has always come from the same place it started — strong partnerships, steady leadership, and a commitment to doing things the right way.
Art Briggs
(Co-Founder, Dominion Customs Solutions; March 1, 1981 – July 23, 2021)
Was one of the country’s most respected classification and customs experts. A founding partner in Dominion Customs Solutions...
Was one of the country’s most respected classification and customs experts. A founding partner in Dominion Customs Solutions, Art combined technical mastery with a deeply held commitment to ethical practice. His work shaped the firm’s identity and continues to guide its approach to clients and colleagues today.
Early Career and Dominion Customs Solutions
Art’s interest in customs and trade began early in his professional life and quickly became a defining passion. He entered the field with exceptional aptitude, achieving the highest marks on the customs brokers exam as a young man. That early achievement foreshadowed a career built on precision, clarity, and an ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical solutions.
On March 1, 1981, Art and his partners launched Dominion Customs Solutions. From the firm’s first days, Art insisted on combining rigorous technical knowledge with a client-first mindset. He and his partner John Preston maintained a conservative, highly ethical approach to customs work—an approach that set Dominion Customs Solutions apart and remains central to the company’s culture.
Professional Achievements
Art was widely recognized as a leading authority in classification and customs compliance. He led high-profile projects, developed training programs that professionalized the firm’s services, and authored practical methodologies still used by Dominion Customs Solutions today. Colleagues and clients alike relied on his calm judgment during regulatory changes and complex disputes.
Mentorship and Legacy
Art’s influence is most visible in the people he mentored. He invested time in developing junior consultants, teaching them not only the technical skills of the trade but also the professional standards that matter most in customs work. Many of today’s leading consultants trace their development to Art’s patient guidance and exacting standards.
His legacy at Dominion Customs Solutions is tangible: the training programs he designed, the client service principles he championed, and the culture of mentorship he fostered continue to shape the firm’s operations. Dominion Customs Solutions honors his memory by maintaining those standards and by ensuring that new generations of consultants benefit from the foundation he helped build.
Art Briggs gave his best to his profession and to the people around him. His technical brilliance, his commitment to mentorship, and his unwavering ethical standards remain central to Dominion Customs Solutions. We honor Art by continuing the work he loved, by upholding the principles he taught, and by passing his lessons on to future generations of customs professionals.
Leadership Team
Our leadership team brings together over two centuries of combined customs and trade compliance experience.
Emil Fiorantis
President, Dominion Customs Solutions
Emil Fiorantis is a senior leader in the Canadian customs and international trade consulting industry, with more than two decades of experience helping importers...
Emil Fiorantis is a senior leader in the Canadian customs and international trade consulting industry, with more than two decades of experience helping importers manage compliance, reduce duty exposure, and navigate cross-border trade challenges. He is the President of Dominion Customs Solutions, where he leads the firm's strategic direction, client service model, and overall growth.
Emil brings a practical, hands-on understanding of customs operations, backed by experience on both the brokerage sector and importer side. Earlier in his career, he held roles with organizations including Schenker Customs Brokerage & Canadian Tire Corporation, giving him direct insight into the day-to-day realities companies face when moving goods across borders. He later built on that foundation through consulting roles, including developing TCSO Global Solutions, before moving to Dominion.
Since joining Dominion Customs Solutions in 2007, Emil has played a key role in evolving the firm into a trusted advisor for companies across a range of industries. Under his leadership, the organization has focused on delivering clear, results-driven advice in areas such as Trade Compliance, tariff classification, duty recovery, and trade program optimization.
Emil is known for his ability to break down complex regulatory requirements into straightforward, actionable steps. His approach is grounded in helping clients make informed decisions while minimizing risk and avoiding unnecessary costs. Whether supporting audit response, managing large-scale compliance Solutions, or identifying recovery opportunities, he emphasizes practical solutions that can be implemented in genuine business environments.
In addition to his executive role, Emil has been active in the broader trade community. He served as a former board member of I.E. Canada, contributing to industry dialogue and advocacy around international trade and customs policy. Outside of his professional work, Emil dedicates time to mentoring Canadian business owners, offering guidance and assistance in creating and implementing their strategic plans while integrating modern technologies for ongoing enhancement and expansion.
Colleagues and clients alike recognize Emil for his steady leadership style and deep industry knowledge. He combines technical expertise with a strong commercial mindset, ensuring that Trade Compliance supports—not slows down—business growth.
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Andrew Simkins
Vice President, Dominion Customs Solutions
Andrew Simkins is a seasoned executive in the Canadian customs and international trade consulting space, with more than 25 years of experience...
Andrew Simkins is a seasoned executive in the Canadian customs and international trade consulting space, with more than 25 years of experience helping companies manage risk, recover duties, and stay compliant in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Based in the Greater Toronto Area, he serves as Vice President at Dominion Customs Solutions, where he leads strategic operations and client delivery.
Andrew's career has been built inside the customs consulting field. He joined Dominion Customs Solutions in the late 1990s as an International Trade Consultant and steadily took on greater responsibility, including serving as Director of Operations for nearly a decade before moving into his current executive leadership role. This progression gives him a practical, ground-level understanding of the challenges importers face, as well as the leadership perspective needed to guide large-scale compliance and duty recovery programs.
Today, Andrew focuses on helping importers reduce costs and avoid unnecessary exposure with government authorities. He works closely with clients to identify missed duty recovery opportunities, strengthen internal compliance processes, and navigate audits or trade disputes with confidence. His approach is straightforward: make complex customs rules understandable and turn them into clear, actionable steps that protect the business.
He has deep expertise across Trade Compliance, duty recovery programs, tariff classification, trade agreements, and regulatory appeals. Over the years, he has supported organizations across a range of industries, helping them improve supply chain visibility, respond to changing trade policies, and maintain compliance while still moving goods efficiently across borders.
As a leader, Andrew is known for building strong teams and long-term client relationships. He emphasizes practical solutions over theory and encourages a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. His work often involves partnering with finance, logistics, and legal teams to align customs strategy with broader business goals.
Andrew is also engaged in the broader trade community, contributing his expertise to industry discussions and organizations focused on customs and trade advisory services.
At his core, Andrew brings a steady, experienced hand to an area that can create real financial and operational risk for businesses. His goal is simple: help clients understand their obligations, recover what they're owed, and move forward with confidence.
Erol Özberk
Managing Director,
Trade Compliance Solutions
Erol Özberk is a seasoned customs and trade compliance leader with close to twenty years dedicated to helping large Canadian and multinational...
Erol Özberk is a seasoned customs and trade compliance leader with close to twenty years dedicated to helping large Canadian and multinational organizations manage cross-border risk, optimize costs, and navigate the complexities of global trade. Known for his strategic oversight and practical, real-world perspective, he has successfully built and led robust compliance Solutions across the retail, logistics, and customs brokerage environments.
Most recently, Erol served as Director of Customs & Trade at Loblaw Companies Limited, where he led the overarching trade compliance strategy and operations for one of Canada's largest retail supply chains. Prior to his tenure at Loblaw, he held senior leadership roles at FedEx Logistics and Sears Canada, specializing in customs brokerage operations and trade compliance management.
An enthusiastic advocate for advancing the trade community, Erol frequently collaborates with industry trade associations, driving joint initiatives with federal regulators that support and enable trade facilitation, streamline supply chain processes, and modernized regulatory frameworks. In addition to his corporate and association work, he has served as a part-time professor at George Brown Polytechnic, sharing his technical expertise in international trade and customs practices to mentor the next generation of industry professionals.
Stuart Pringle
Director,
Client Strategy & Business Development
Stuart Pringle is an accomplished business development and trade advisory leader with a strong history of driving revenue growth...
Stuart Pringle is an accomplished business development and trade advisory leader with a strong history of driving revenue growth, building high-performing client relationships, and delivering strategic customs and international trade solutions for organizations across North America. Known for his executive presence, consultative leadership style, and ability to navigate complex regulatory environments, Stuart has successfully partnered with companies ranging from mid-market businesses to large multinational importers.
Throughout his career, Stuart has specialized in helping organizations identify opportunities for cost reduction, duty recovery, tariff mitigation, and Trade Compliance optimization. His ability to align technical trade expertise with commercial business objectives has enabled clients to realize significant financial savings while strengthening operational compliance and supply chain resiliency.
Stuart has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor and growth-focused leader who excels at developing strategic client partnerships, leading complex sales initiatives, and delivering measurable business results. He is highly skilled at engaging executive stakeholders, understanding operational and financial priorities, and translating highly technical customs and trade matters into clear, actionable strategies that support long-term business goals.
His leadership experience spans business development strategy, client relationship management, consultative sales, cross-functional collaboration, and executive-level solution delivery. Stuart is particularly recognized for his ability to build credibility quickly, lead solution-oriented conversations, and create sustainable growth opportunities in competitive markets.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Stuart has demonstrated leadership beyond the workplace through mentorship, coaching, and volunteer involvement in youth sports organizations, reflecting his commitment to team development, accountability, and community engagement. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, staying active in the community, and following developments in global trade, business strategy, and competitive sports.
Based in Ontario, Canada, Stuart continues to work closely with organizations seeking strategic guidance in Trade Compliance, international trade, and supply chain risk management within an increasingly complex global trade environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have been helping importers navigate complex trade landscapes for 45 years. Our decades of specialized experience allow us to spot compliance risks and recovery opportunities that newer firms or standard brokers often miss.
No. Dominion Customs Consultants is an independent customs compliance and duty recovery firm. While customs brokers specialize in the day-to-day clearance of goods, we focus on strengthening your overall customs program through compliance reviews, trade audits, duty recovery, risk management, and strategic initiatives such as Canada Border Services Agency’s CARM Program. We work collaboratively with your existing customs broker to enhance compliance, identify cost-saving opportunities, and help optimize your organization's international trade operations.
Dominion Customs Consultants serves importers across virtually every industry that imports goods into Canada. With more than 40 years of experience, we have helped organizations in manufacturing, retail, automotive, food and beverage, consumer products, industrial equipment, aerospace, life sciences, energy, mining, technology, and many other sectors improve customs compliance, recover overpaid duties, and reduce import costs. Our expertise is built around Canadian customs legislation and international trade—not a single industry—allowing us to deliver objective, strategic solutions tailored to each client's products, supply chain, and business objectives.
We are proudly based in Canada, making us absolute specialists in Canadian Customs Legislation and regulations, CARM portal management, and Canadian trade compliance. However, we routinely handle international trade lane optimizations, free trade agreement verifications, and cross-border issues affecting global supply chains.