Simply Trade

Host: Annik Sobing

Partnership with ICPA 

ICPA Compliance Corazón: Community, Careers, and a Fiesta of Global Trade

In this special Simply Trade Roundup, Annik sits down with ICPA’s new executive director, Elisabeth Sherrell, and board members Alicia Bryant and Kelsey Moraski to talk about what makes ICPA such a unique home for trade compliance professionals—and what to expect at the 2026 ICPA Annual Conference, “Compliance Corazón: Fiesta of Global Trade,” in San Antonio. From career-defining connections to real-world problem solving over breakfast, this episode shines a light on the people, purpose, and heart behind ICPA.​

Who’s who at ICPA now

Meet new executive director Elisabeth Sherrell and board members Alicia Bryant (Edgewell Personal Care) and Kelsey Moraski (global trade, supply chain, and risk).

Why each of them joined the ICPA board and how they see the mission evolving.​

Why ICPA matters for your career

How attending ICPA conferences helped Alicia earn her customs broker license and expand her role into broker auditing, FTAs, and classification.

Why Kelsey calls ICPA one of the few places where people truly understand the real risk and gray areas compliance professionals live in every day.​

Inside the 2026 ICPA Annual Conference – San Antonio

Dates: March 1–4, 2026 at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio on the River Walk.

Theme: “Compliance Corazón – Fiesta of Global Trade” with a strong focus on community, culture, and practical problem solving.

Content highlights: deep dives on Canada (including CARM and current China‑related developments), regional customs updates (e.g., Latin America sessions led by experts like Brenda Cordova), technology and AI in trade compliance, and navigating today’s “most exciting and challenging” era for trade.​

Registration is still open, but the hotel is smaller and spots are filling fast, with many attendees registering in the last 45 days. Virtual attendance remains an option for those who cannot travel.​

Culture, community, and the “Voices of Compliance”

How ICPA grew from an idea shared by Elisabeth’s mom and co‑founder Linda into a global community where people show up for each other—professionally and personally.

Plans to honor Elisabeth’s mother in San Antonio with a memorial moment and a new Voices of Compliance performance: a rewritten “Deep in the Heart of Texas” celebrating tariffs and trade (yes, with audience clapping).​

Stories of members supporting each other through life events and why “compliance with heart” isn’t just a tagline.​

Problem solving in person

Why the real magic of ICPA happens in the hallways and at breakfast tables: people bring real problems, not just citations, and work through them together.

Kelsey’s Alex Honnold analogy: compliance pros as the climbers who truly understand the risk, and ICPA as the rare room where everyone “speaks the same language.”​

Building the next generation of trade professionals

How ICPA is actively bringing students and early‑career professionals into the fold, including full conference scholarships (like for student Jake Boggs, who left with multiple job offers).

Elisabeth’s 20‑year vision: seeing “trade compliance professional” standing alongside firefighter and nurse on career day—and why she wants to introduce more young people to this path.​

Hot topics Alicia and Kelsey are watching at ICPA

Technology and AI: why you can’t just “slap tech” on broken processes—garbage in, garbage out—and how companies are really rolling out tools in compliance.

Volatility and gray areas: how different companies are interpreting risk, handling USMCA changes, and navigating fast‑moving geopolitical shifts, especially in Canada and beyond.​

2026 ICPA Annual Conference – Compliance Corazón: Fiesta of Global Trade

Dates: March 1–4, 2026

Location: Grand Hyatt San Antonio, River Walk

Format: In‑person with virtual option

Focus: Practical sessions, regional experts, technology, risk, and a strong emphasis on networking, mentorship, and community.​

ICPA Europe Conference

Location: Dresden Germany, April 8-10, Hilton ​

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Questions about ICPA or the conference? Reach out to ICPA leadership or message us and we’ll connect you.

Host: Cindy Allen

Exile: Is the U.S. Being Traded Around?

In this week’s Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen, CEO of TradeForce Multiplier, unpacks one of the busiest weeks we’ve seen in international trade—and frames it all through the lens of Taylor Swift’s song “Exile.” From fresh tariff threats to shifting alliances and possible government shutdowns, Cindy explains why it’s starting to feel like the United States is watching global trade move on without us.​

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

New U.S. tariff threats tied to Cuban oil

Announcement of tariffs on countries that sell or buy oil from Cuba and why this may largely hit usual suspects like Venezuela and Russia.​

Trade partners going “around” the U.S.

How the UK’s outreach to China and Canada’s new deal with China signal a trend of countries pursuing their own economic interests directly with Beijing.​

Canada under pressure—again

Trump’s 100% tariff threat on Canadian goods over the China deal and the newer threat to decertify Canadian-made jets until Gulfstream aircraft are certified in Canada—and why both moves raise legal and practical questions.​

Shifting tariff landscapes

Guatemala and El Salvador trade deals and expected rate ranges.

Possible hike back to 25% on South Korean goods if their trade deal isn’t approved.

Potential rollback of the 25% tariff on India tied to Russian oil purchases.​

232 duties and a big valuation court fight

Why CBP centers are informally pushing an “all-in” cost model (materials, labor, manufacturing) for steel, aluminum, and now copper derivatives—and how that conflicts with the 232 declaration language.

The new Court of International Trade case challenging that interpretation and what it could mean for importers paying 232 on components.

Why many companies are considering filing protests now to preserve their rights pending the outcome—and why you need to talk to your own counsel.​

ACE refunds are coming—ready or not

Electronic refunds are set to go live February 6.

What importers need to do with their brokers and 4811 setup, and why brokers must confirm their own information is on file in ACE.

The big question: what happens to refunds if the setup is incomplete?​

EU deal on pause

Why the EU is putting its U.S. deal “on hold” and how that could trigger a return to higher tariffs if the U.S. responds like it has with South Korea.​

Hill updates: express couriers and DHS funding

A new bill proposal for simplified declarations on express shipments under 600 dollars, and what it could mean if you use or compete with express couriers.

The looming DHS/CBP funding issue, the likelihood of a shutdown, and what a shutdown typically means for cargo processing versus outreach and meetings.​

Why “Exile”?

By contrasting these two perspectives—like the two voices in the song—Cindy argues the U.S. risks finding itself “in exile” as trade partners build new frameworks around us, and warns that we’ve “seen this film before” in history with outcomes that weren’t ideal.​

Key Takeaways:

Expect more volatility in tariffs and trade relationships as the U.S. pushes assertive trade tools and partners seek alternative paths.​

Importers dealing with 232 duties on steel, aluminum, and copper inputs should closely watch the new court case and coordinate with counsel on protest strategy.​

ACE electronic refunds are an opportunity and a risk—data and 4811 setups must be right to avoid missing money you’re owed.​

Even in a shutdown, cargo should keep moving, but engagement with CBP and DHS will be limited.​

Strategically, the U.S. may be drifting into a kind of trade “exile”—and it’s critical for companies to understand both the domestic narrative and how the rest of the world is reacting.

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Presented by: Global Training Center​

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​

Hosts:

Andy Shiles

Lalo Solorzano

Guest(s):

Jack Moberger, Co-Founder, DocUnlock

Ned Cartmell, Co-Founder, DocUnlock

Sepehr Fakour, Co-Founder, DocUnlock

Published: January 2026

In this episode of Simply Trade, Andy and Lalo sit down with the founders of DocUnlock to explore one of the most painful realities in global trade: document chaos.

From commercial invoices and packing lists to certificates, statements, and agency-specific requirements, trade compliance still lives in PDFs, emails, spreadsheets, and inboxes. Jack, Ned, and Sepehr break down how DocUnlock is using AI to extract, structure, validate, and operationalize trade documents — turning static paperwork into usable compliance data.

The conversation dives into real-world brokerage and importer pain points, why “document accuracy” is no longer enough, and how automation is shifting expectations across customs, PGAs, and supply chain partners. This episode is a must-listen for anyone dealing with high-volume imports, broker workflows, or compliance teams stretched thin.

Trade compliance is still dominated by unstructured documents — and that’s the bottleneck.

AI can extract and normalize data without replacing trade expertise.

Document automation reduces risk, speeds releases, and improves audit readiness.

Brokers and importers benefit differently — but both win when documents are usable data.

The future of compliance isn’t fewer documents — it’s smarter ones.

Commercial invoices & packing lists

Certificates & trade declarations

Broker-importer document handoffs

Audit readiness & data traceability

Scaling compliance without scaling headcount

DocUnlock – AI-powered trade document automation

Jack Moberger, Co-Founder, DocUnlock

Ned Cartmell, Co-Founder, DocUnlock

Sepehr Fakour, Co-Founder, DocUnlock

Global Training Center – Trade & compliance education

Hosts:

Andy Shiles – https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyshiles/

Lalo Solorzano – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmoberger/

Ned Cartmell (DocUnlock) – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ned-cartmell-91179711/

Sepehr Fakour (DocUnlock) – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sepehr-f/

Produced by:

Global Training Center – https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/

Stay connected with the Simply Trade community:

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Trade Geeks Community

Episode Title: Trade & Tech Series: Using Technology to Unlock Duty Mitigators

In this episode of Simply Trade Tips, Renee and Julie dive into duty mitigators and how technology is transforming the way trade professionals manage voluntary customs programs. From drawback and foreign trade zones to Chapter 98 provisions and free trade agreements, the conversation focuses on how tech-enabled subprocesses can reduce risk, improve compliance, and make mitigator programs operationally feasible.

The key takeaway? Mitigators aren’t just about duty savings — they’re about building smart, data-driven compliance strategies that align labor, systems, and business objectives.

What duty mitigators really are — and why they’re often misunderstood

The role of voluntary programs in customs compliance

How technology supports complex mitigators like:

Drawback programs

Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs)

Chapter 98 provisions (including TIBs and returns)

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

First Sale for Export

Why accurate HTS classification is a mitigator in itself

How tech helps create stronger business cases for mitigator programs

In-house vs. outsourced compliance — and why tech matters in both

Mitigators require structured subprocesses — technology makes them scalable

Tech connects core business systems so import and export data work together

Good data in = good data out (and bad data creates risk fast)

Mitigators shouldn’t be dismissed due to overhead — tech changes the math

Asking vendors how they leverage technology can impact pricing and value

Pick one mitigator and analyze it using your own data.

Review your ACE data or internal trade data

Identify one potential mitigator (drawback, FTZ, TIB, FTA, etc.)

Determine if your import and export activity supports it

Assess whether technology could make it viable and compliant

Remember: not all mitigators apply to all duties — understanding eligibility is key.

Be part of the discussion inside the Trade Geeks Community and let us know how your FIO analysis goes. We’ll be sharing episodes, insights, and real-world trade conversations there.

👉 Trade Geeks Community: https://globaltrainingcenter.com/portal/

Hosts:

Renee Chiuchiarelli

Julie Parks

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano

New Simply Trade Tips episodes every Tuesday.

Presented by:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

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Trade Geeks Community

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💡 Want to Be on the Show or Have Topic Suggestions?

📧 Email us at [email protected]

Host: Annik Sobing

ACE Up Your Trade Game: Modernizing Family Logistics

This week on Simply Trade, host Annik Sobing chats with Jordan Welke, next-generation leader of Welke Customs Brokers & International Freight Forwarders, about evolving a family-owned logistics firm in a changing trade landscape. From rented desks symbolizing rapid 2025 growth to blending old-school service with cutting-edge tech, Jordan shares how Welke transformed challenges into expansion. Whether you're scaling a brokerage, managing hybrid teams, or navigating tariffs, this episode reveals strategies for staying nimble, compliant, and people-focused amid industry shifts.​

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Origins of Welke: Founded in 1985 from a basement brokerage to North America's magazine specialist

2025 breakout: Two new U.S. offices, 10 hires, NV OCC licensing for freight forwarding

Hybrid culture: Three office days, flying teams for unity despite remote options

Tech-service blend: Automating data entry to free staff for concierge client care

Growth drivers: Capturing clients from acquired competitors, handling supply chain chaos

Branding edge: Fun website vibes (shipping container dreams) driving inbound leads

Leadership scaling: Empower divisional managers while communicating 5-year vision company-wide

Adapting to pitfalls: Nimble mindset, owning mistakes, constant education like CVSA exams

Future-proofing: Compliance tech, agency feeds, and hiring hustlers for U.S. sales​

Tips for Getting Started:

Honor roots: Pair personalized service with AI for mundane tasks—keep humans on exceptions.

Build online presence: SEO-optimize with personality to stand out in searches.

Scale smart: Hire/promote leaders per office, share vision to preserve "mom-and-pop" feel.

Stay adaptable: Embrace failure as learning; invest in team training amid tariffs/strikes.

Respond fast: Answer crisis calls instantly—turn disruptions into loyalty wins.​

Key Takeaways:

Resources & Mentions:

Jordan Welke: Connect on LinkedIn (search Welke Customs Brokers)

Welke Customs Brokers: www.welke.com — Customs brokerage, freight forwarding, 3PL across North America

Hiring: U.S. freight/customs sales roles open—DM Jordan for culture-fit hustlers

Industry context: Tariffs, CARM, supply disruptions boosting demand for agile partners​

Credits

Producer: Annik Sobing 

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Host: Cindy Allen

In this episode of Simply Trade – Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen uses Taylor Swift’s “The Moment I Knew” to frame a sobering realization: the rest of the world is increasingly moving on with trade—without the United States at the center. She opens with concrete developments, including Canada and China finalizing a trade agreement as China becomes Canada’s number one trade partner, and a large EU delegation touring Asia (China, Vietnam, and others) to explore a broad EU–Asia trade bloc arrangement.​

On the policy front, Cindy notes the administration has walked back its threat to impose tariffs on NATO countries that opposed a U.S. move to “buy” Greenland, easing immediate sovereignty‑driven tension. But legislative activity is heating up: Senator Cassidy’s customs bill, a proposed import licensing regime (including possible restrictions on non‑resident importers) that could morph from “trusted trader” incentives into a broad tariff scheme, and a new proposal to apply a 20% flat rate on express courier imports, mirroring the postal model and positioned as a de minimis replacement. She explains how the elimination of de minimis has already hit express integrators hard—FedEx alone reported a one‑billion‑dollar “headwind,” with average de minimis values around 25 dollars now requiring full entries on vast volumes of low‑value packages.​

Cindy also touches on potential one‑year extensions of AGOA and the Haiti Help Act, still being tracked through budget legislation, and confirms the IEPA Supreme Court decision did not appear before the Court went out of session, pushing any announcement into mid‑to‑late February at the earliest. She warns that the longer the delay, the more likely a significantly drawn‑out process for any eventual tariff relief, even if importers prevail. Meanwhile, CBP continues ramping up 28s and enforcement on steel and aluminum 232s, with early, non‑binding indications from the Base Metals Center that raise new questions about how to back out raw material costs and properly calculate dutiable value—prompting AAEI to form a working group to engage CBP.​

The emotional core of the episode comes from Davos, where Cindy sees “the moment” the global system recognized a fundamental break: the U.S. arrived with a strong America‑First message that was audibly booed by attendees, while other leaders—especially Canada’s prime minister—signaled a deep sense of betrayal and a hard pivot toward building trade agreements around, rather than through, Washington. For Cindy, this is the moment the world “knew” the old gravitational pull of U.S. trade leadership may not return even after this administration or the next election cycle: global trade volumes and cooperation remain strong, but the center of gravity is shifting as partners organize new paths forward.​

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Key new developments: Canada–China agreement, EU–Asia trade bloc talks, and the rollback of threatened NATO tariffs over Greenland.​

How proposed U.S. import licensing, non‑resident importer limits, and a 20% courier flat rate could reshape tariff burdens and de minimis workarounds.​

Why express couriers have been hit so hard by de minimis elimination, and what a flat‑rate model might change.​

The latest on IEPA Supreme Court timing, 232 steel/aluminum enforcement, and AAEI’s efforts to clarify valuation expectations.​

Why Davos 2026 may mark the “moment the world knew” U.S. trade leadership has fundamentally changed—and what that means for future agreements.​

Key Takeaways

Traditional allies are actively deepening trade with China and Asia, signaling a more multipolar trade system.​

U.S. legislative proposals could push more cost and complexity onto importers and express carriers, even as they seek new facilitation models.​

IEPA relief, if it comes, will likely be slow and process‑heavy; companies should not bank on quick cash refunds.​

Global forums like Davos are now openly questioning U.S. reliability as a trade partner, accelerating moves to diversify away from U.S. gravity.

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Presented by: Global Training Center​

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Lalo Solorzano

Brenda Cordova, Partner, Córdoba Law Group (Mexico)

January 22, 2026

Approx. 50 minutes

Global Training Center

Mexico quietly flipped the switch on a major tariff regime change — and unlike past proposals, this one actually took effect on January 1. In this episode, Lalo and Andy are joined by Brenda and Francisco Cordova of Córdoba Law Group in Mexico to break down what’s happening, why it matters now, and how U.S. companies could be caught off guard if they’re not paying attention.

From new Mexican import tariffs ranging as high as 50%, to exemptions tied to free trade agreements, to the real-world impact on supply chains and pricing models, this conversation brings much-needed clarity to a fast-moving issue that many companies are only now discovering — after the law is already live.

If your business touches Mexico in any way, this is a must-listen.

Mexico’s new tariff law effective January 1 — no prórroga, no delay

Why this change surprised even seasoned trade professionals

Tariff ranges reportedly spanning 15% to 50% across hundreds of tariff lines

How free trade agreements factor into exemptions — and where they don’t

What this means for companies relying on USMCA

Why Mexico trade policy is now one of the hottest conference topics in the industry

Practical considerations for importers, exporters, and compliance teams

Many companies assume Mexico policy changes follow long consultation periods or last-minute extensions. This time, that assumption was wrong.

Brenda and Francisco explain what changed, why it changed, and what companies should be doing right now — before costs, compliance issues, or operational disruptions escalate.

Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles

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Series: Trade & Technology

In this episode of Simply Trade Tips, Renee Chiuchiarelli and Julie Parks zoom out to look at the big picture of trade technology, focusing on two foundational elements: products and entities.

As companies face increasing scrutiny, data volume, and regulatory complexity, this conversation explores how trade technology can manage, automate, and store trade-critical data upstream—long before a “screaming shipment” hits the dock.

This episode builds on the Tech Series by explaining how trade professionals can move away from transaction-level firefighting and toward scalable, reusable, and compliant trade data frameworks.

Renee and Julie discuss how technology supports the sub-processes behind product-related trade decisions, including:

Trade numbering (HS, Schedule B, ECCN, USML, CCCN)

Partner Government Agency (PGA) requirements

Country of origin determination (especially critical in today’s tariff environment)

Transaction value and valuation sub-processes

Managing product attributes once so they can be reused across all transactions

The key takeaway:

The conversation then shifts to entities and how technology can manage trade-related data that isn’t tied to a single order but affects every transaction:

Restricted party screening (and why re-screening matters)

Sanctions and due diligence

Supply chain mapping and forced labor compliance

Ownership, related-party indicators, and M&A activity

Using technology to support CBP enforcement trends and data analytics

The message is clear:

Julie and Renee emphasize that technology isn’t about replacing trade professionals — it’s about:

Handling high data volumes efficiently

Reducing manual, repetitive work

Freeing up time for strategic trade decisions

Creating a single source of truth for product and entity trade data

When trade answers are attached at the product and entity level, they flow automatically into every import and export transaction — improving consistency, compliance, and confidence.

Take time this week to:

Identify your biggest product or entity data challenges

Ask where trade answers (classification, origin, valuation, screening) currently live

Evaluate how well those answers are married to your product or entity data

Think about how that data could be reused — not re-created — across transactions

Then, bring your insights to the Trade Geeks Community and share what you’re discovering.

👉 Join the conversation here:

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Host: Annik Sobing

In this energetic Simply Trade News Roundup, host Annik Sobing welcomes Sean Yu and Chen Cui, the twenty-something co-founders of GingerControl—an AI-powered trade compliance startup that's shaking up the industry's manual processes with tariff optimization and automation tools. High school friends from New Zealand who bonded over geopolitics, Sean (the numbers guy) and Chen (the ICPA conference hustler) spotted trade's massive tech gap six months ago: legacy systems like SAP/Oracle can't handle tariff volatility, and most tools lack solid data architecture or "ground truth" references.​

They explain GingerControl's origin as a tariff briefing tool (40 enterprise subscribers already) that delivers actionable HTS impacts and financial analysis, evolving into broader automation that liberates compliance teams from repetitive work for strategic scenario planning. Named after the "Ginger Man" (Trump TikTok meme), their platform claims 5-8% average tariff savings through compliant optimization across millions of tariff texts—without hallucinations or legal risks. The duo candidly addresses industry skepticism: Sean trained their AI to score 96.3% on the customs broker exam (beating competitors), while Chen highlights how gatekeeping (hard exams, lack of youth) and "vibe coding" (AI without foundations) plague the sector.​

Annik probes generational dynamics: their youth gave them intuitive AI fluency, but they've engineered intuitive interfaces for all ages. They see tariff chaos elevating compliance from "basement" to "boardroom," predict one-person compliance teams becoming unsustainable, and envision GingerControl as the industry's trusted one-stop solution within five years. Fun close: If they were shipping containers, Chen wants global travel without inspections, Sean aims for Africa's coasts, and Annik dreams of Mediterranean sunsets.​

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

How two Gen Z friends spotted trade's tech crisis and built GingerControl from tariff briefings to full compliance automation.​

Why legacy ERP systems fail under tariff volatility and how "vibe coding" creates unreliable AI tools.​

GingerControl's edge: 96.3% customs broker exam score, 5-8% tariff savings, and "ground truth" references for audit-proof reasonable care.​

The youth barrier in trade (hard exams, no intentional entrants) and how tariff chaos could force compliance into C-suites.​

Their vision: liberate compliance from grunt work, enabling strategic planning as next-gen talent arrives.​

Key Takeaways

Trade's manual processes and gatekeeping create massive tech opportunity for agile, compliant AI startups.​

True AI value lies in reliable references and auditability, not just flashy outputs—96.3% broker exam proves it.​

Tariff volatility demands boardroom compliance; one-person teams importing millions of units won't scale.​

Youth brings intuitive AI design, but success requires understanding all users and building intuitive interfaces.

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Host: Cindy Allen

In this episode of Simply Trade – Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen uses Taylor Swift’s “Mastermind” to explore how intentional strategy—rather than accident—must drive both trade compliance and career development in 2026. She opens with a packed week in trade: the newly released semiconductor Section 232 action (where most chips are ultimately exempt but only after highly technical, engineering‑level analysis), a new Taiwan trade deal setting a 15% limit on imports (including auto parts) broadly aligned with South Korea, Japan, and the EU, and complex exemption mechanics for companies investing in U.S. semiconductor capacity that sit largely outside normal brokerage workflows.​

Cindy also updates listeners on continuing steel and aluminum valuation confusion—especially for components embedded in larger products—where CBP centers have held seminars but importers still struggle to see how to reach a defensible “reasonable care” standard. She notes that IEPA Supreme Court “decision watch” continues after yet another false alarm, mentions emerging chatter about possible duties on countries doing business with Iran (with almost no details available yet), and flags renewed legislative movement in Washington, including a potential AGOA/Haiti package and customs modernization/21CCF concepts championed by Senator Cassidy to give CBP new tools and drive better tech and visibility (ideally with real facilitation alongside enforcement).​

On the policy‑and‑politics front, Cindy briefly highlights breaking comments from President Trump floating tariffs on countries opposing U.S. acquisition of Greenland, underscoring how quickly trade risk can be introduced into the conversation—even before formal measures appear. She then shares personal reflections from the APEC A2C2 meeting in Mexico City, where she joined government and private‑sector representatives from Asia‑Pacific, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., and was surprised and humbled to meet international listeners of Cindy’s Version in person.​

Tying it back to “Mastermind,” Cindy argues that trade compliance is a team sport: it relies on internal partners (procurement, logistics, product design, strategy, C‑suite) and external partners (brokers, trade associations, fellow practitioners) working together with intention, not by accident. She urges trade professionals to “level up” and become masterminds of both their company’s trade strategy and their own careers—building networks through conferences, local associations, and forums, and even creating new communities where none exist, as seen in the new Memphis customs brokers association under Amber Hagwood’s leadership. Cindy closes with a smile, embracing a new label she picked up in Mexico City: “trade social influencer”—and encouraging listeners to mastermind their own next chapter.​

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Key details and practical implications of the semiconductor 232 action and the new Taiwan trade deal, including complex exemptions for U.S. semiconductor investments.​

Where steel/aluminum component valuation stands, why “reasonable care” feels murky, and how CBP–trade communication is evolving.​

The latest on IEPA decision timing rumors, possible duties linked to Iran‑related trade, and movement on AGOA, Haiti, and 21CCF‑style customs modernization.​

Why trade compliance is a team sport that requires cross‑functional and external collaboration, not isolated heroics.​

How to apply the “Mastermind” mindset to your trade program and career—intentionally building networks, communities, and influence.​

Key Takeaways

Semiconductor and Taiwan measures add yet another layer of technical and policy complexity, especially for high‑tech and auto supply chains.​

Reasonable care expectations are rising while guidance remains incomplete, making documentation, dialogue, and industry engagement critical.​

Legislative and political signals (from AGOA to Greenland tariffs) can quickly reshape risk; staying plugged into credible sources and associations is essential.​

Trade pros should see themselves not just as problem solvers, but as masterminds of strategy, community building, and their own professional journey.​

Presented by: Global Training Center​

Listen & Subscribe

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Connect with Simply Trade

Podcast page: https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/simply-trade-podcast​

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Join the Trade Geeks Community

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