Simply Trade

Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles

📚 Why Bonds Matter More Than Ever

Think bonds are boring? Think again.

In this episode, Andy and Lalo welcome Colleen Clarke of Roanoke Insurance Group for a deep dive into how customs bonds and sureties are being reshaped by tariffs, trade policy, and financial risk.

From insufficiency reviews to billion-dollar bond capacity, Colleen explains how importers and brokers can better project their bond needs, protect cash flow, and manage rising risk exposure. You’ll also learn why collaboration with brokers, sureties, and trade associations is essential to navigating today’s dynamic environment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Tariff hikes mean higher duty payments — and bigger bond requirements.

CBP issued 58 insufficiency notices in 2025 (vs. nearly 5,000 in 2024).

Importers should project forward and regularly review bonds, ideally quarterly.

Breaking out separate bonds (e.g., for divisions or anti-dumping products) can mitigate risk.

ATA Carnets remain a powerful tool for stimulating trade while protecting cash flow.

Sureties and brokers are critical partners in planning bond sufficiency.

📌 Resources & Mentions:

Roanoke Insurance Group – Tariff & Bond Resources

Roanoke Bond Calculator

NCBFAA – National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America

AAEI – American Association of Exporters & Importers

CBP – Bonds Overview

ATA Carnet – USCIB

Global Training Center

🎧 Credits

Hosts:

Lalo Solorzano – LinkedIn

Andy Shiles – LinkedIn

Guest:

Colleen Clarke – Vice President, Roanoke Insurance Group | LinkedIn

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano

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

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Hosts: Renee Chuichiarelli & Julie Parks

In this episode of the Career mini-series, Hammer & Heels (Renee & Julie) dig into the art of managing up — giving trade professionals practical strategies to strengthen relationships with senior leadership and gain visibility within their organizations.

Communication is Key – Learn your leader’s communication style. Do they want a three-word answer, a PowerPoint deck, or a bulleted summary? Adapting your style to theirs is critical.

Gain Visibility – From joining task forces and delivering presentations to starting a customs council, visibility is about showing up, taking risks, and getting into the boardroom.

Make Strategic Proposals – Frame your big ideas with the triangle of scope, money, and time. Balance priorities, gain stakeholder support, and don’t be afraid to push forward proposals you’ve been sitting on.

👉 This week’s action item: Roll your chair back and ask: What’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to change in your trade function? Use the tools of communication, visibility, and strategic proposals to move it forward.

Join the Trade Geeks Community at Global Training Center and tell Renee & Julie:

What’s your go-to strategy for managing up?

How have you gained visibility in your organization?

What’s one proposal you’re ready to dust off and reintroduce?

Hosts:

Producer:

🎙️ New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

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

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🎧 Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions?

Host: Annik Sobing

Mexico Aligns With the U.S. on Customs Reform

In this Roundup episode, host Annik Sobing welcomes Manuel Muñiz, an expert in global trade, to unpack President Claudia Sheinbaum’s ambitious 2026 proposals for Mexican customs reform. These reforms, introduced as part of the 2026 economic package, aim to reshape tariff codes, increase compliance obligations, and strengthen Mexico’s alignment with the United States.

Together, Annik and Manuel discuss what these sweeping changes mean for importers, customs brokers, and international businesses navigating U.S.-Mexico trade. From increased penalties to tariff hikes on over 1,300 products, this conversation offers a timely look at what companies should expect as Mexico seeks to tighten compliance and revenue collection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why Mexico is reforming its customs and tariff laws in 2026.

How customs brokers’ responsibilities and liabilities will expand.

What businesses importing from China should prepare for under the new tariff regime.

The potential impact of higher penalties for misclassification and noncompliance.

How these reforms tie into the upcoming 2026 USMCA renegotiation.

Key Takeaways:

Mexico is aligning customs and tariff policies more closely with the U.S. ahead of USMCA renegotiations.

Customs brokers will face greater accountability for ensuring accurate declarations.

Importers could see penalties of up to 300% of the goods’ value for violations.

Roughly 1,371 tariff codes will be affected, with duties rising between 10% and 50%.

Businesses need to prepare now with compliance programs, technology, and proactive supply chain strategies.

Resources & Mentions:

Mexican Customs Authority – SAT

Global Training Center

USMCA Agreement

Host: Annik Sobing

New Roundup episodes every week.

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

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Host: Cindy Allen

This week, Cindy Allen — the Taylor Swift of Trade — channels 22 from the Red album to reflect on a trade environment that feels happy, free, confused, and lonely all at the same time.

From new Section 232 tariffs announced by the Trump administration to the ripple effects on pharmaceuticals, trucks, furniture, and cabinetry, Cindy breaks down what these measures mean for importers, customs brokers, and compliance teams. She also highlights the EU deal implementation, the role of trade associations, and the looming Supreme Court case over IEEPA tariffs.

At the same time, Cindy reminds trade professionals of the importance of staying connected and leaning on the trade community as we navigate rapid changes together.

Details of the Trump administration’s latest Section 232 tariffs:

Why generics from India and China were not included in the new duties

The pharmaceutical trade role of Ireland and Switzerland

The EU trade deal rollout and CBP’s reliance on Chapter 99 numbers

How limited government communication impacts brokers and importers

Why joining NCBFAA, AAEI, or ICPA helps importers and brokers stay informed

Updates on the IEEPA Supreme Court case and its potential impact on tariff policy

Importers must prepare for higher duties on pharmaceuticals, trucks, furniture, and cabinetry.

CBP’s use of Chapter 99 numbers provides technical implementation but leaves policy questions unresolved.

Switzerland and Ireland remain critical players in pharmaceutical imports — and targets for tariff discussions.

Trade associations are vital for getting timely answers and shaping FAQs.

The IEEPA Supreme Court case could reshape tariff authority and compliance strategies.

Federal Register – Tariffs & Trade Notices

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

NCBFAA – National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America

AAEI – American Association of Exporters and Importers

ICPA – International Compliance Professionals Association

Supreme Court of the United States – Docket Information

Hosts:

Cindy Allen – LinkedIn

Trade Force Multiplier

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano – LinkedIn

New episodes every Friday.

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

👉 Connect with us:

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Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles

📚 From Regulations to Stories — A Fresh Take on Compliance

In this episode, Andy and Lalo sit down with Belinda Sissom, a compliance leader who has worked across industries from food and pharma. She shares how she uses storytelling, creativity, and simple communication tools to bring trade compliance to life for colleagues and executives.

Instead of long manuals and jargon-heavy training, Belinda leans on Wednesday Quizzes, Friday Quotes, and storytelling to make compliance approachable, relatable, and memorable. She also explains how to position your trade function as a “small business inside a big business” to build credibility, trust, and influence across departments.

This conversation is all about showing how trade compliance can move from the back office to the front lines — by speaking in the language people actually understand.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Storytelling makes compliance stick better than technical explanations.

Positioning compliance as a partner (not a “police force”) builds cross-department trust.

Creativity and humor are powerful tools for engagement and retention.

Leaders need to adapt their messaging: high-level vision for executives, practical context for teams.

Compliance is most effective when it feels like part of the business, not a silo.

📌 Resources & Mentions:

Lead With a Story – Paul Smith – The book referenced by Lalo on using storytelling in business

Global Training Center – Accredited trade education provider

Simply Trade Podcast Archive

CBP – Informed Compliance Publications – Free CBP compliance guidance

Harvard Business Review – The Irresistible Power of Storytelling as a Strategic Business Tool

ICPA – International Compliance Professionals Association

🎧 Credits

Hosts:

Lalo Solorzano – LinkedIn

Andy Shiles – LinkedIn

Guest:

Belinda Sissom, MBA, LCB – LinkedIn | Trade Compliance Leader

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano

📢 Subscribe & Follow

New episodes every week.

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

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Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

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Hosts: Renee Chuichiarelli & Julie Parks

In this episode of the Career mini-series, Hammer & Heels (Renee & Julie) explore what it means to step into leadership in the world of trade and customs. From mentorship to management style, and even the importance of perception, they share practical insights for both aspiring leaders and seasoned managers.

Mentorship Matters – Whether formal or informal, mentoring is a responsibility for leaders and a growth path for practitioners. Document progress, close knowledge gaps, and give back to the trade community.

Know Your Management Style – Get feedback on how your team experiences you. Are you empathetic, authentic, and respectful? Does your style align with your personal brand?

Evaluate Perception & Work Mix – Leadership isn’t just about tasks; it’s about how others perceive you and how your responsibilities shift as you move up the ladder.

👉 This week’s action item: Take a pause and evaluate how others perceive you as a leader. Ask for feedback — whether through a formal 360 review or simple conversations — to understand the impact of your style and adjust where needed.

Join the Trade Geeks Community at Global Training Center and tell Renee & Julie:

Do you have a mentor or are you mentoring others?

How would your team describe your management style?

What feedback surprised you the most about your leadership approach?

Hosts:

Producer:

🎙️ New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

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

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Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected] or DM us on LinkedIn.

Host: Annik Sobing

🌍 How AI Is Transforming Global Supply Chains

In this special Simply Trade Roundup, host Annik Sobing shifts the focus from trade compliance to supply chain strategy with guest Sarah Hurzeler, entrepreneur and co-founder of Open Crown AI. Sarah shares how her company is helping organizations rapidly automate and optimize their supply chain workflows using practical AI solutions.

Together, Annik and Sarah Hurzeler explore the intersection of trade, technology, and operations — from managing tariffs and compliance challenges to leveraging AI for resilience, risk management, and transparency. They also discuss the cultural shift required for AI adoption and why Sarah believes not using AI in five years will be like refusing to use email today.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

AI in Supply Chains – How Open Crown AI makes data usable across fragmented systems to drive smarter decisions.

Tariffs & Risk – Why 2025 has made tariffs a universal challenge and how supply chains are adapting.

Data Usability – Turning PDFs, emails, and scattered reports into insights that support rapid response.

Sustainability & Transparency – How brands are moving from policy to practice and using AI to share accountability with consumers.

Adoption Challenges – Why AI implementation is different from traditional ERP/PLM rollouts — and how to start small.

The Future of AI – Why AI is becoming as essential as spreadsheets or email, both for business and personal life.

Key Takeaways:

Supply chain resilience depends on data usability, diversification, and real-time insights.

AI is shifting teams from data entry to value-added decision-making.

Adoption doesn’t need to be daunting — start small and expand as impact is proven.

Transparency is no longer optional — consumers expect visibility down to the factory level.

Businesses that resist AI risk falling behind, much like refusing email in the 1990s.

📌 Resources & Mentions:

Open Crown AI

UCanTrade Inc.

Nike Transparency Reports

Everlane – Radical Transparency

Host: Annik Sobing

📅 New Roundup episodes every week.

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

👉 www.GlobalTrainingCenter.com

Connect with us:

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Global Training Center on LinkedIn

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

Do you also want me to go ahead and generate 5 alternative title options for this episode now, since you usually like having choices?

Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles

🌍 Tariffs, Compliance, and Tech — How Flexport Responds to Rapid Trade Changes

In this week’s episode, Lalo and Andy sit down with Marcus Eeman and Alex Nederlof from Flexport to discuss how global supply chains are adapting to an unprecedented wave of tariff changes and compliance demands.

From the elimination of de minimis to overlapping steel, aluminum, and copper tariffs, importers are being forced to rethink compliance at a deeper level than ever before. Marcus and Alex pull back the curtain on how Flexport manages these challenges — combining policy interpretation, bill-of-materials tracking, and advanced technology to keep customers compliant and costs under control.

They also share insights on how AI, automation, and tariff engineering are reshaping compliance, and why companies need to strengthen compliance staffing and cross-functional collaboration at the C-suite level.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Key Takeaways:

Tariff volatility is forcing companies to adapt in real time.

Enforcement is still unsettled, but CBP is starting to demand deeper supply chain detail.

Importers should document decision-making to satisfy the reasonable care standard.

Compliance workloads have tripled — C-suites must increase staffing and cross-departmental alignment.

AI and automation can reduce compliance tasks from hours to minutes — freeing people to focus on strategy.

Strategic tools (USMCA, FTZs, drawback, tariff engineering) are underutilized but increasingly valuable.

Resources & Mentions:

Flexport – Tariff Simulator

CBP – Mod Act & Reasonable Care

USMCA Information – CBP

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

Global Training Center

Credits

Hosts:

Lalo Solorzano – LinkedIn

Andy Shiles – LinkedIn

Guests:

Marcus Eeman – Director, Customs Systems & Process, Flexport

Alex Nederlof – Sr. Director, Trade & Financial Services, Flexport

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano

📢 Subscribe & Follow

New episodes every week.

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

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This one kicks off your new Career mini-series after wrapping Tariff Chaos. Here are your show notes in the established Simply Trade [Tips] format:

Hosts: Renee Chuichiarelli & Julie Parks

With the Tariff Chaos mini-series complete, Hammer & Heels (Renee & Julie) launch a brand-new series focused on Careers in Trade.

In this opening episode, they dig into the hot topic on everyone’s mind: career options in today’s booming trade and customs market. From knowing your value to navigating compensation and finding joy in your role, this episode gives trade pros the perspective to seize opportunities and make smart career moves.

Know Your Value – Value isn’t just about pay. It’s whether your expertise is recognized, your voice is heard in key meetings, and your role is positioned where it belongs.

Evaluate Compensation – Use benchmarks like Gateway Recruiting’s annual salary review, but recognize that today’s hot market is pushing ranges higher. Don’t be afraid to seize opportunities.

Balance Joy, Responsibility & Pay – Career satisfaction comes from more than money. Weigh joy in your work, scope of responsibility, and compensation together to decide if you’re in the right place.

👉 This week’s action item: Take inventory of your career. Do you feel valued? Is your compensation competitive? Are you finding joy in your work? Identify one area you want to improve and outline your next step — whether inside your company or in the broader market.

Join the Trade Geeks Community at Global Training Center and tell Renee & Julie:

Do you feel valued in your current role?

Are you happy with your compensation?

What brings you the most joy in your trade career today?

Hosts:

Producer:

🎙️ New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

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

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

YouTube

Spotify

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Trade Geeks Community

💬 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks!

🎧 Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions?

Host: Annik Sobing

Billions at Stake: The Legal Fight Over IEEPA Tariffs

In this week’s Simply Trade Roundup, host Annik Sobing welcomes back Jason Kenner, litigation partner at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg and former senior counsel at the DOJ’s International Trade Field Office, to unpack the latest in the escalating legal fight over IEEPA tariffs.

Jason explains the Federal Circuit’s August 29th ruling, the implications of striking down both the fentanyl and reciprocal tariffs, and why the case is now on an expedited path to the Supreme Court. With billions of dollars in duties hanging in the balance, importers are left asking: should they still pay, can refunds be expected, and how should they prepare if the Court rules against the tariffs?

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Key Takeaways:

Despite lower court rulings, importers must still pay IEEPA tariffs until the Supreme Court rules.

Protecting liquidations and documentation is critical to preserve potential refund rights.

The Supreme Court’s decision could redefine the scope of presidential tariff authority.

Businesses should prepare for long timelines and roadblocks even if tariffs are struck down.

Importers may need to consider filing their own cases in light of the vacated universal injunction.

📌 Resources & Mentions:

Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.

Federal Circuit Opinion on IEEPA Tariffs – August 29, 2025

Supreme Court Cert Petition in V.O.S. v. United States (Sept 5, 2025)

CRS Report on Presidential Tariff Authority & IEEPA

Host: Annik Sobing

📅 New Roundup episodes every week.

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

👉 www.GlobalTrainingCenter.com

Connect with us:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

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Trade Geeks Community

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks!

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