Simply Trade

Host: Annik Sobing

Special Sponsor: PAX AI 

In this Simply Trade News Roundup, host Annik Sobing talks with Patrick Nieveler, CEO of Pasani Academy, a European training organization focused on customs and foreign trade law, about how trade compliance education is evolving across the EU. Patrick explains how he went from heading European customs for a German automotive manufacturer to founding Pasani after realizing that traditional two‑day, in‑person seminars were too broad and inefficient for busy cross‑functional teams like purchasing, sales, and R&D. Pasani instead built short, digital e‑learning modules (60–90 minutes) tailored to specific roles, along with update content for seasoned customs experts as laws change.​

The conversation compares EU and U.S. approaches to training, noting that while systems differ, core topics like export controls, tariffs, and classification are strikingly similar—and that cross‑jurisdictional knowledge is increasingly vital in a globalized supply chain. Patrick highlights current hot topics driving demand in Europe: Russia and Iran sanctions, the EU Green Deal framework (including CBAM, deforestation, and eco‑design rules), and the upcoming multi‑year overhaul of EU customs law expected to roll out between 2028 and 2038, with initial frameworks anticipated in 2026. He also stresses that these “non‑customs” environmental and product rules still directly impact customs declarations and clearance processes.​

Patrick and Annik discuss how companies are using Pasani’s blended learning model—baseline e‑learning plus targeted live sessions—to ensure participants arrive with common foundational knowledge, preventing advanced learners from being bored and beginners from being left behind. They also explore why trade professionals on both sides of the Atlantic should understand each other’s regimes: EU exporters handling U.S.‑origin goods must respect U.S. rules, and U.S. firms trading with the EU must consider EU‑specific obligations.​

AI features prominently as well. Patrick shares how Pasani uses large language models to translate courses into multiple EU languages and is developing an AI chatbot that can answer day‑to‑day questions, point users to relevant training modules, and help bridge the gap between theory and real‑world decision‑making—while still requiring human review and judgment.​

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why Patrick founded Pasani Academy and how short, role‑specific e‑learning fills a gap for cross‑functional trade training in Europe.​

How EU and U.S. customs/trade compliance systems compare, and why cross‑jurisdictional training is becoming essential.​

The top EU training topics right now: Russia/Iran sanctions, CBAM and Green Deal rules, deforestation and eco‑design regulations, and the planned EU customs law reform.​

How blended learning (baseline e‑learning + live sessions) solves the mixed‑knowledge problem in corporate training groups.​

How AI is being used to translate courses, support on‑the‑job Q&A, and connect everyday questions to deeper training content—without replacing human oversight.​

Key Takeaways

Trade compliance education needs to reach far beyond the “customs team” to purchasing, sales, R&D, management, and more.​

EU environmental and product regulations (like CBAM) may not be classic customs rules, but they directly affect import/export declarations.​

Both U.S. and EU companies benefit when they understand each other’s legal frameworks, especially for export controls and product flows.​

AI is already reshaping how training is delivered and used, but its outputs still need to be checked and contextualized by humans.​

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Series: Trade & Technology

Hosts:

Renee Chiuchiarelli

Julie Parks

Podcast: Simply Trade

In this episode of Simply Trade Tips with Hammer & Heels, Renee Chiuchiarelli and Julie Parks kick off a brand-new series focused on Trade & Technology. As technology continues to reshape how trade compliance is managed, this episode provides a high-level overview of where tech fits into the trade function — and why trade professionals can no longer afford to ignore it.

The conversation explores how technology (including AI, automation, and analytics) supports better decision-making, reduces compliance risk, and shifts trade professionals toward more strategic, value-added work. Renee and Julie also address a common concern head-on: Is technology replacing trade jobs — or making them better?

This episode sets the stage for deeper dives in upcoming episodes, introducing key areas where technology is already transforming trade operations.

Why trade and technology are now inseparable

AI vs. traditional technology: understanding the difference

How technology helps prevent compliance errors

Government use of data and why companies must stay ahead

The shift from transaction-level work to exception management

Specialization vs. variety in modern trade careers

How technology supports strategic trade decision-making

Products: Managing “sticky data” like classification, origin, and attributes

Entities: Screening, supply chain tracing, and partner data

Importing & Exporting: Transaction execution and integration

Mitigators: Free Trade Agreements, Chapter 98/99, duty reduction programs

Auditing: Post-entry review, ERP reconciliation, and compliance checks

Learning & Development: LMS tools, skills tracking, and continuing education

Think about one trade problem you would like technology to help solve.

Products

Entities

Importing or exporting processes

Duty mitigation programs

Auditing and compliance reviews

Training and skills development

As this series continues, use that problem as your reference point and evaluate how technology might support a smarter, more efficient solution.

👉 Join the conversation in the Trade Geeks Community and share what problem you’re trying to solve:

Simply Trade Podcast (all episodes):

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Trade Geeks Community:

Hosts:

Renee Chiuchiarelli

Julie Parks

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano

🎙️ Simply Trade is a podcast by Global Training Center, bringing practical insights to trade and customs professionals worldwide.

🎙️ New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

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

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Episode: #423

Lalo Solorzano, Co-Host, Simply Trade

Andy Shiles, Co-Host, Simply Trade

Bill Reinsch – Senior Adviser, CSIS | LinkedIn

Scott Miller – Senior Adviser, CSIS | LinkedIn

The Trade Guys Podcast – A CSIS Production | Podcast Page

Simply Trade kicks off 2026 with a special crossover episode featuring The Trade Guys, blending high-level trade policy analysis with real-world compliance and operational impact. Together, the group explores what’s already scheduled to happen in 2026 — without crystal-ball forecasting — focusing on four major global trade battlefronts that businesses must prepare for now.

From Supreme Court authority over tariffs to USMCA’s uncertain future, WTO dynamics, China’s global export strategy, and the erosion of de minimis, this episode connects policy decisions in Washington to the day-to-day realities faced by trade professionals.

The looming IEEPA Supreme Court decision and what it could mean for tariff authority

Why a “split decision” could prolong uncertainty — especially around refunds

Whether Congress is prepared (or willing) to reassert its constitutional role in trade

Why the U.S. still needs the WTO — even if it dislikes multilateralism

The critical importance of the e-commerce tariff moratorium

How upcoming WTO Ministerial discussions may quietly shape U.S. trade strategy

“Managed separation” between the U.S. and China

Why Chinese exports aren’t disappearing — they’re redirecting

How Mexico, the EU, and others are responding to China’s manufacturing surge

Why a full withdrawal is unlikely — but renegotiation is inevitable

Scenarios ranging from bilateral deals to a 10-year extension cycle

The growing compliance burden for companies relying on USMCA benefits

How de minimis once saved the customs system — and why its rollback matters

Enforcement whiplash: seizures, investigations, and system congestion

Why “fixing abuse” shouldn’t mean breaking the entire system

Practical advice on engaging Congress before policies are announced

Why explaining trade in plain language to elected officials matters

The role of industry groups like NCBFAA and initiatives such as ADAPT

Trade policy uncertainty isn’t going away — it’s becoming the norm

Compliance professionals will increasingly absorb the shockwaves of policy decisions

Engagement, education, and advocacy are no longer optional for global businesses

The Trade Guys Podcast (CSIS): https://www.csis.org/podcasts/trade-guys

Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles

Guest Hosts: Bill Reinsch & Scott Miller (The Trade Guys)

Produced by: Global Training Center

Podcast: Simply Trade

Simply Trade Podcast Website: https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplytradepod

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/09m199JO6fuNumbcrHTkGq

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/simply-trade/id1640329690

Host: Cindy Allen

In this episode, Cindy Allen uses Taylor Swift’s “Anti‑Hero” to frame a frank look at how the trade community may be “the problem” when it over‑hypes uncertain outcomes—specifically, the long‑awaited Supreme Court decision on the IEPA tariffs. Cindy opens with a rundown of the first full week of 2026, focusing on growing confusion over valuation of steel and aluminum components for Section 232 duties and the wave of CBP Forms 28 and 29 now hitting importers. She highlights limited, high‑level CBP guidance, the strong FAQ work from NCBFAA, and cautions brokers not to drift into legal advice when it comes to component‑level valuation.​

Cindy then zooms out to reasonable care, arguing that CBP’s practical standard is rising because the agency now has sophisticated AI‑driven supply‑chain mapping tools that importers simply do not. As CBP expects more historic, component‑level data many importers never anticipated needing, companies are struggling to reach deep into multi‑tier supply chains where vendors themselves may not hold detailed records. She warns that technology investment will be essential to meet evolving expectations, even as the definition of “reasonable” shifts upward.​

The episode also touches on broader policy shifts, including a new FMC member and an importer registration/licensing bill floated as a possible alternative to tariffs—changes that could significantly expand CBP’s administrative responsibilities if enacted. Cindy closes by returning to “Anti‑Hero” and the IEPA Supreme Court case: after major trade publications and online chatter primed the industry for a decision that never came, she urges listeners not to become part of the problem by feeding speculation in unprecedented legal territory. Her own “crystal ball” points to a possible February decision, but with a clear warning to treat any prediction with caution and to focus instead on preparation, documentation, and patience.​

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why Section 232 steel and aluminum component valuation has become so contentious, and what CBP is asking for in current 28s/29s.​

How the reasonable care bar is effectively rising as CBP leverages AI and multi‑layer supply‑chain mapping tools.​

Why brokers should stick closely to written guidance and leave complex valuation/legal positions to counsel and CBP centers.​

What a proposed importer registration/licensing regime could mean for CBP and importers if it moves forward.​

How the trade community over‑hyped an IEPA Supreme Court decision that did not drop—and why speculation can make the industry “the problem.”​

Key Takeaways

Start now: gather steel and aluminum component valuation documents and organize them so you can respond quickly to CBP inquiries.​

Expect CBP to assume you know (and can prove) more about your supply chain than you realistically do today; plan technology and data improvements accordingly.​

Be wary of social‑media “deadline certainty” around the IEPA case; no one outside the Court knows the exact timing.​

Don’t be the “Anti‑Hero” of your own program—avoid spreading rumors, focus on facts, and stay ready for multiple legal and policy scenarios.​

New Roundup episodes every week.

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Hosts: Andy Shiles & Lalo Solorzano

Published: January 2026

Andy and Lalo kick off the new year with two of the most respected voices in international trade law — Adrienne Braumiller and George Tuttle — for a candid, fast-moving discussion on what importers should expect in 2026.

From skyrocketing tariffs and aggressive enforcement to constitutional questions surrounding presidential authority, this episode unpacks how the trade landscape has fundamentally shifted. Adrienne and George explain why many companies are feeling overwhelmed, how Customs enforcement has intensified, and where importers are most exposed — especially around country of origin, valuation, non-resident importers, and Section 232 derivative products.

The conversation also dives deep into IEEPA tariffs, potential Supreme Court rulings, refund uncertainty, and why enforcement actions like CF-29s, investigations without prior notice, and False Claims Act cases are becoming far more common.

If you import goods into the U.S. — especially steel, aluminum, copper, or products subject to anti-dumping or Section 301 — this episode is essential listening.

Adrienne Braumiller is the founder of Braumiller Law Group and a nationally recognized authority on customs law, trade remedies, and tariff mitigation strategies. She is known for helping companies navigate high-stakes enforcement actions and complex regulatory challenges.

George Tuttle III is the founder of Tuttle Law Offices and a leading expert in customs compliance, valuation, country of origin, and enforcement defense. George regularly advises importers on navigating audits, penalties, and evolving CBP interpretations.

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Podcast: Simply Trade Tips (Hammer & Heels)

In this episode of Simply Trade Tips, Renee Chiuchiarelli and Julie Parks bring their Difficult Conversations series to life with a practical role-play scenario. Wearing their “Pitcher & Catcher” jerseys, they walk listeners through a real-world example of how to ask for a raise using their GGCC framework—a simple, repeatable approach designed to make tough conversations more productive, respectful, and collaborative.

This episode moves beyond theory and shows how preparation, tone, and structure can completely change the outcome of a high-stakes discussion.

Why difficult conversations improve when both sides understand their role as Pitcher (initiator) and Catcher (receiver)

How the GGCC framework works in real life:

G – Greeting: Set a respectful, appreciative tone

G – Groundwork: Explain the purpose and context

C – Concern: Clearly and directly state the issue

C – Closing: Align on next steps with a statement and a question

How to ask for a raise by focusing on role elevation and business value, not emotion

Why role-playing difficult conversations reduces tension and improves clarity

Write out difficult conversations before having them

Practice with a trusted colleague by switching Pitcher and Catcher roles

Focus on collaboration, not confrontation

Understand your company’s timing and cycles before initiating compensation discussions

Use structure to keep conversations professional and productive

Identify a difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding.

Write it out using the GGCC framework

Role-play it with someone you trust

Refine the language to ensure clarity, respect, and partnership

Bonus: Bring the scenario into the Trade Geeks Community and share what worked—or where you got stuck.

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

Simply Trade Podcast:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplytradepod?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/09m199JO6fuNumbcrHTkGq?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/simply-trade/id1640329690?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Hosts:

Renee Chiuchiarelli

Julie Parks

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano

🎙️ Simply Trade is a podcast by Global Training Center, bringing practical insights to trade and customs professionals worldwide.

🎙️ New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

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

Connect with us:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

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Trade Geeks Community

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Host: Annik Sobing

In this Simply Trade Roundup, host Annik Sobing sits down with global shipping and trade journalism leader Peter Tirschwell, the driving force behind the TPM Conference, to explore how a niche maritime newspaper event evolved into one of the premier gatherings in global container shipping. Peter shares the origin story of TPM: how the Journal of Commerce reinvented itself around 2000 by turning its deep reporting network into a live, editorially independent forum timed to the annual trans‑Pacific contract season.​

They discuss how TPM, held each March in Long Beach in the heart of the LA–Long Beach port complex, became a place where BCOs, carriers, NVOs, ports, and tech providers can gauge supply–demand balance, negotiate with better intelligence, and refresh critical relationships. Peter explains how the attendee mix has shifted over 25+ years, with hundreds of major shippers now present and representation from about 50 countries, turning TPM from a trans‑Pacific event into a broadly global container‑trade platform.​

How the Journal of Commerce pivoted from a collapsing print model to launch TPM as a data‑driven, neutral conference for BCOs and carriers.​

Why TPM is held in early March in Long Beach and how that timing aligns with trans‑Pacific contract cycles and port/rail/warehouse visits.​

How TPM’s strictly editorial program (no “pay‑to‑speak”) builds trust, attracts senior executives, and shapes real contract and routing decisions.​

How the attendee base has grown to include ~575 shipper companies and participants from around 50 countries, spanning Asia–Europe, North–South, and more.​

How 2025’s tariff shock—from ~2% to ~17–18% average duties—has pushed shippers to use TPM for cost‑reduction ideas, legal tariff strategies, and sourcing shifts.​

How TPM Tech and AI discussions are tackling repetitive-process automation, carrier cost reduction, and competitive risk if rivals adopt AI faster.​

Practical ways to “do TPM right”: coming in with a plan, choosing sessions strategically, and using the event to build and refresh critical relationships.​

TPM now functions as a market pulse + relationship engine: attendees leave with clearer views on capacity, pricing, risk, and who they can rely on when markets tighten.​

Shippers are under intense pressure from tariffs and volatility; events like TPM help them hunt for every legal saving—from transport choices to customs strategies.​

AI is moving “fast and hard” into container shipping; companies that ignore it risk being undercut on cost and losing business to more efficient competitors.​

To get real value from TPM, attendees should arrive with specific problems to solve, a prioritized session list, and pre‑planned meetings across their network.​

Host/Producer: Annik Sobing

TPM CONFERENCE DETAILS

New Roundup episodes every week.

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Host: Cindy Allen

The first Cindy’s Version episode of 2026 kicks off with reflection, perspective, and a clear-eyed look at how fundamentally global trade has changed. Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Right Where You Left Me, Cindy Allen explains why many trade professionals feel stuck between old rules and a completely new enforcement reality.

While the holidays brought a brief pause in activity, the underlying shifts from 2025 are still very much in motion. From tariff threats that didn’t materialize, to delayed Section 232 actions, to long-awaited automation updates from CBP, Cindy walks through what changed—and what didn’t—over the past two weeks. More importantly, she explains why 2025 will be remembered as a pivotal year in trade history, on par with other transformational moments like containerization, air cargo, and automated clearance.

• Proposed 92% antidumping duties on Italian pasta were ultimately set far lower, avoiding combined duty rates exceeding 100%

• CBP announced all duty refunds will be issued electronically beginning in February

• COAC will meet virtually on January 14

Cindy explains that while trade professionals earned every bit of their experience in 2025, the rules of engagement have changed. Enforcement is heavier, actions are more industry-specific, and governments are using every tool available—sometimes in new and unexpected ways. Formal announcements are often replaced by rumors, social media posts, or informal signals, forcing the industry to operate in a constant state of readiness.

At the same time, the government expects the trade community to adapt just as aggressively—leveraging automation, data, and new technologies to meet rising compliance expectations. What was once a rigid, compartmentalized system has become layered and complex, operating simultaneously at the country, industry, company, and even product level. The challenge now is not getting stuck in the way trade “used to be,” but learning how to move forward in a system that no longer looks the same.

• 2025 marked a fundamental shift in how trade policy is applied and enforced

• Global Training Center

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Producer:

New episodes every Friday.

This episode sponsored by Pax

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

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Hosts: Andy Shiles & Lalo Solorzano

As we kick off 2026, Andy and Lalo sit down with Ken Roberts, one of the most respected voices in global trade data and the founder of WorldCity, to cut through the noise and look at what the numbers actually say about U.S. trade.

This episode is a masterclass in data-driven trade storytelling. Ken walks listeners through the biggest shifts in global trade flows, explaining how U.S. trade relationships with Mexico, China, Canada, and Vietnam have evolved — and what those changes really mean for businesses making sourcing, routing, and investment decisions today.

The conversation covers everything from why Mexico is now the United States’ top trade partner, to how AI-driven server demand is reshaping imports, why gold exports are surging, and how de minimis and e-commerce shipments are quietly transforming trade volumes. Along the way, Andy and Lalo translate the data into real-world implications for compliance teams, logistics planners, and executive leadership.

If you work in trade, supply chain, or logistics — or if you need to explain trade impacts to senior leadership in plain English — this is an episode you’ll want to share.

Mexico has become the U.S.’s #1 trade partner — for imports, exports, and total trade.

China’s share of U.S. trade has dropped below 10% for the first time in decades.

AI infrastructure demand is driving massive growth in computer and server imports, especially through air cargo.

Gold exports are surging, driven more by price and economic uncertainty than volume.

De minimis and e-commerce shipments are reshaping both imports and exports.

Trade deficits don’t tell the whole story — they often reflect economic strength and consumer demand.

Rules of origin and enforcement will be a major theme in 2026, especially under USMCA review.

Trade policy moves slowly — even dramatic announcements take years to show up in the data.

U.S. trade trends heading into 2026

Why Mexico overtook China and Canada

Port and airport shifts (Chicago, JFK, Laredo, LA)

AI, servers, and Taiwan’s rise in trade rankings

Gold, energy exports, and economic uncertainty

De minimis, e-commerce, and low-value shipments

China trade diversion vs. true decoupling

What trade data means for routing, sourcing, and strategy

Ken Roberts (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenrobertsworldcitytradenumber/

WorldCity / U.S. Trade Numbers: https://ustradenumbers.com/

Ken Roberts on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenroberts/

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Trade Data: https://www.cbp.gov/trade

U.S. Census Bureau – Trade Statistics: https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade

This episode sponsored by Pax

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Hosts: Annik Sobing, Cindy Allen, Renee Chiuchiarelli, Julie Parks, Warrington Ellacott, Andy Shiles, Lalo Solorzano

In this historic Simply Trade year-end roundtable, all seven hosts gather for the first time to reflect on 2025's chaotic trade landscape. From "frantic" and "exhausting" to "unprecedented" and "unbelievable," the group shares one-word summaries of the year before diving into favorite moments, biggest lessons, and personal connections that defined their podcast journeys.​

Highlights include Annik's motivational interviews with trailblazers like Amy Morgan and Frank Desiderio, Cindy's embrace of her "Taylor Swift of Trade" persona sparked by Annik, Renee and Julie's "Hammer & Heels" reconnection and FIO ("Figure It Out") philosophy, Warrington's standout pods on cross-border realities, Andy's pride in the show's growth amid rapid policy shifts, and Lalo's impactful SMB stories like Detroit Axle's tariff struggles. The conversation captures raw emotions—from grief stages to mental health concerns—while celebrating trade's new C-suite spotlight and the power of community, collaboration, and "news you can use."​

Each host's one-word summary of 2025 trade: opportunity, frantic, exhausting, chaos, unbelievable, unpredictable, upside-down.​

Personal favorite moments, from inspirational journeys (taxis to trade) to real-world SMB tariff pain and unexpected connections.​

How podcasts fostered reconnection, motivation, and practical tips amid chaos (e.g., "FIO," boardroom translation, trade strategist skills).​

The human side: grief stages, mental health strains, and why trade pros stepped up like never before.​

2026 previews: dual playbooks, SMB advocacy, USMCA uncertainty, and upcoming webinars like Hammer & Heels' free FIO coaching hour.​

2025 elevated trade compliance from "bowels of the organization" to boardroom essential—now translate complexity into executive action.​

Connection is king: podcasts sparked mentorships, reconnections, and motivation across experience levels.​

SMB voices matter: real stories like Detroit Axle's highlight policy's human cost; amplify via associations and groups.​

Amid chaos, focus on basics: FIO (Figure It Out), bite-sized learning, and community support for mental health and strategy.​

Hosts:

Annik Sobing – Roundup Host

Cindy Allen – Cindy's Version (Taylor Swift of Trade)

Renee Chiuchiarelli & Julie Parks – Hammer & Heels Tips

Warrington Ellacott – Canadian Pod

Andy Shiles & Lalo Solorzano – Founders

New episodes weekly in 2026!

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