Host: Cindy Allen

Published: October 17, 2025

Length: ~11 minutes

Presented by: Global Training Center

This week, Cindy Allen — the Taylor Swift of Trade — opens with the song "Wish List" from Taylor’s latest album to frame a candid look at the current landscape for international trade professionals.

Cindy launches with a snapshot of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown and its impacts on trade facilitation, CBP operations, and agency holds, noting which agencies are coping and where the pain points are starting to show. She also discusses the latest on vessel and container fees targeting China-linked shipping, and the rollout of new environmental "green fee" proposals gaining traction with international regulators.

Cindy moves on to cover major industry developments, from continued Section 232 duty adjustments on pharmaceuticals and heightened scrutiny on origin-specific duties, to the broader market response as recent tensions with China appear to cool—at least for now.

Wrapping up, Cindy connects this week’s trade turbulence to the themes in “Wish List”—emphasizing the profession’s desire for a return to routine and the growing “Make Trade Boring Again” movement among customs brokers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

U.S. government shutdown: Trade impact and operational status by agency

Week three status update on CBP, FDA, CPSC, USDA, and smaller agencies

How agency holds and exams are affecting shipments

New vessel/container fees and carrier rerouting after China-related restrictions

October 14 implementation and compliance guidance for carriers

Cost impact—and what’s (not yet) being passed on to importers

Section 232 pharma update and reciprocal duty challenges

Delayed new tariffs for pharmaceuticals and incentives to manufacture in the U.S.

Complications for brokers: layering, exemptions, and compliance tools

China trade relations and tariff risk

Why the threatened 100% duty on Chinese goods for November 1 is unlikely

Market reaction to de-escalation signals

New “green fee” proposals and the U.S. response

IMO, WTO, and WCO push for environmental surcharges

President Trump’s stance and potential U.S. actions

Customs brokerage in the spotlight

How recent media coverage has changed the industry

The call to “Make Trade Boring Again”—and why that’s on Cindy’s wish list

Key Takeaways:

The shutdown has yet to cause a major breakdown in trade flows, but agency-specific disruptions are mounting.

Vessel/container fees are being absorbed through creative routing—importers haven’t seen extra charges, but the future is uncertain.

Section 232 duties remain a compliance headache, especially with new exemption and layering rules.

Signs of a U.S.–China trade thaw this week bring relief and market stability, halting expectations of major new tariffs.

Trade professionals everywhere are wishing for normalcy: less drama, fewer surprises, and a return to boring, reliable compliance work.

Resources & Mentions:

— CBP, FDA, CPSC, USDA shutdown operational notices

— Section 232 duty update bulletins

— Taylor Swift: Wish List, The Life of a Show Girl (referenced)

— Make Trade Boring Again campaign (NCBFAA)

Hosts:

Cindy Allen – LinkedIn

Trade Force Multiplier

Producers:

Lalo Solorzano – LinkedIn

New episodes every Friday.

Presented by: Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.

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