Global Trade Lens: From Policy to Practice

For years, many Asia Pacific companies treated trade compliance as optional. US-China trade tensions, stricter sanctions enforcement, and ownership-based export controls have changed that. Host Andy Simmons is joined by Raymond Yip, Director of Solutions Consulting for Global Trade Management in Asia Pacific at e2open, to explain why manufacturers in China, Japan and Singapore are now investing in global trade management software. Raymond shares the case of a Chinese company challenged by US Customs over a sanctioned address it missed during restricted party screening. He explains why ownership rules like the BIS 50% rule make manual screening unworkable. They also cover how AI is changing HS code and ECCN classification for electronics manufacturers, how AI agents can answer tariff questions in plain English, and why automating compliance lets trade teams focus on exceptions and higher-value work.

The EUDR takes effect at the end of 2026, with the EU forced labor regulation following a year later. These measures push beyond declaring goods and providing the right information, toward tracing and proving your whole supply chain.

In this episode, Andy Simmons speaks with Alex Lowery, Senior Solutions Consultant for Global Trade Management in Europe at e2open. They explore how years of constant disruption have changed how European trade teams work, why tariff volatility has companies rethinking sourcing and free trade agreements, and where AI genuinely helps versus where a human still needs to own the call.

For all the interest in AI, Alex's own wish for clients on their digital transformation journey is far less glamorous, and he knows it. Clean, accurate master data is where it starts. Without it, even the best trade system in the world can end up in a troubling spot

Global trade teams are being asked to keep up with faster tariff changes, more complex compliance requirements, and growing pressure to protect margins. In this episode, Andy Simmons sits down with Stefan Melone, Senior Solutions Consultant at e2open, to talk through what companies doing business in North America are facing right now—from forced labor regulations and free trade agreements to landed-cost analysis and the practical role of AI. Stefan shares why the right content, technology, and phased approach to digital transformation can help teams move from reacting to change to building more resilient trade operations.

Get the Navigating U.S. Import Tariff Landscape Guide to explore the strategies compliance professionals are using to manage rising duties, shifting regulations, and margin pressure.

In our debut episode, Anthony Hardenburgh, Product Portfolio Leader of Global Trade Management, and host Andy Simmons, Sr. Director of Solutions Consulting at e2open, explore how Global Trade Management (GTM) is rapidly evolving into a strategic priority for businesses facing complex global challenges. With geopolitical tensions, changing trade policies, and ongoing supply chain disruptions, organizations must rethink trade, compliance, and risk management. 

Anthony shares how GTM has shifted from a back-office task to a key driver of business agility and resilience. They discuss the impact of geopolitical events, the need to modernize trade compliance and automation, and the growing role of AI in global trade operations. The episode reveals what these shifts mean for supply chain leaders and how companies can adapt to stay competitive.