Simply Trade

Host: Annik Sobing

CAPE Refunds, ACE Challenges, and What Importers Need to Know Now

Annik Sobing sits down with Cindy De Leon, founder and managing director of De Leon Trade, for a practical conversation about CAPE refunds and the early rollout of CBP’s new process. Cindy breaks down what importers need to know about phase one eligibility, validation rules, common filing issues, and why clean data and strong internal controls matter. The conversation also covers account deactivations, error messages, broker communication, and what importers should monitor after submission so they do not miss key deadlines.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

CAPE basics

Common filing issues

Internal controls and data quality

Broker and importer communication

Deadlines still matter

Credits

• Global Training Center

Host:

Producer:

New episodes every Friday.

Presented by Global Training Center

• Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Host: Cindy Allen

In this week’s episode of Simply Trade: Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen covers a relatively quiet week in global trade—highlighted by one major development: the successful launch of CBP’s CAPE system for IEEPA duty refunds.

After months of uncertainty, CAPE is now live—and early feedback from the trade community has been overwhelmingly positive. Importers are already seeing duties removed at the entry level and refund amounts becoming visible, marking a significant milestone in the post-IEEPA landscape.

Cindy also touches on ongoing geopolitical risks in the Strait of Hormuz, new developments in Section 232 and 301 actions, and important updates impacting the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors.

Inspired by Taylor Swift’s King of My Heart, Cindy reflects on whether CAPE might finally be the solution the trade community has been waiting for.

• Continued disruption risks in the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global shipping and energy markets

CBP officially launched CAPE on April 20, and early results are promising:

• System launched on time and without major disruption

While some minor issues have surfaced—particularly around capped duty scenarios and prior filing instructions—the overall rollout has been widely viewed as a success.

• CAPE is delivering on expectations—at least in its initial phase

Cindy notes that while not perfect, this is one of the most effective system rollouts seen in recent trade operations.

• CAPE is live—and working

• Global Training Center

Host:

Producer:

New episodes every Friday.

Presented by Global Training Center

• Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Host: Annik Sobing

In this special Simply Trade Roundup episode recorded live at the NCBFAA conference in San Antonio, host Annik Sobing sits down with leaders from the North American Customs Brokers Alliance (NACBA): Federico “Kiko” Zuniga (Chair), Kim Campbell (Treasurer, Canada), and Carlos Martinez (Co-Chair, Mexico).

Together, they discuss the importance of collaboration between customs brokers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — and how a unified industry voice helps shape more efficient and effective border processes. The conversation highlights NACBA’s role in addressing trade barriers, educating the industry, and working directly with all three governments to improve cross-border trade.

From the ongoing USMCA review to evolving customs regulations and real-world operational challenges, this episode underscores why North America must continue working together to remain a strong and competitive trade region.

What NACBA is and how it brings together customs brokers from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Why collaboration across North America is critical for seamless trade flows.

How NACBA identifies trade barriers and works with governments to resolve them.

The current challenges surrounding the USMCA review process.

Key regulatory and operational challenges in Canada (CARM) and Mexico (customs reform).

How education and industry resources help importers better understand cross-border trade.

A unified voice across North America is more powerful than individual country advocacy.

Trade in the region goes beyond economics — it also impacts security and long-term stability.

The USMCA review process is a critical moment that will shape the future of regional trade.

Importers often underestimate compliance requirements, especially under USMCA qualification rules.

Strong collaboration between brokers and governments leads to more practical and effective trade solutions.

North American Customs Brokers Alliance (via NCBFAA resources)

NCBFAA — https://www.ncbfaa.org/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

CAAAREM — https://www.caaarem.mx/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

USMCA — https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Global Training Center — https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Host: Annik Sobing — https://www.linkedin.com/in/annik-sobing-mba-b226251a2/

Guests:

Federico “Kiko” Zuniga — https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiko-zuniga-2570086/

Kim Campbell — https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-campbell-ca/

Carlos Martinez — (CAAAREM, Mexico)

Producer: Lalo Solorzano — https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalosolorzano/

New Roundup episodes every week.

Presented by: Global Training Center — https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Connect with us:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/82507159/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Global Training Center on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-training-center/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

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

Trade Geeks Community — https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/portal/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

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

Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions?

~10 minutes

In this episode of Simply Trade Tips: Hammer & Heels, Renee and Julie tackle one of the toughest realities in transforming trade organizations:

👉 What happens when the work evolves… but the team doesn’t?

As part of the Tactical vs. Strategic series, this conversation dives into the human side of transformation—where automation, delegation, and new expectations shift the nature of work, but not everyone is ready (or willing) to shift with it.

They break down how leaders should think about talent, coaching, and difficult decisions when building a more strategic trade function.

Automation, controls, and delegation don’t just change workflows—they change what’s expected from your team.

👉 Strategic work requires:

👉 Tactical work requires:

As programs mature, the balance shifts—and your talent strategy must shift with it.

Some employees:

👉 That’s not a flaw—it’s a fit question.

The real leadership challenge is identifying:

Even after transformation, teams may revert to:

Why?

👉 If you don’t actively break old habits, they will quietly take over again.

Before making talent changes, leaders should:

👉 Strategic capability doesn’t appear overnight—it’s built.

Developing strategic thinkers requires:

👉 If every deadline is urgent, tactical work will always win.

Sometimes, coaching isn’t enough.

Leaders have two options:

👉 Organizations often change faster than people can.

👉 Moving from tactical to strategic isn’t just about systems—

Schedule intentional thinking time on your calendar.

Because if your day is fully reactive:

Block time to:

Then start aligning your schedule with the leader you want to become.

Head over to the Trade Geeks community and tell us:

Hosts:

Producer:

New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

Presented by:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

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

Trade Geeks Community — https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/portal/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

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

📧 [email protected]

Host: Annik Sobing

Building Reform: Startup Lessons, Trade Tech, and the Future of Supply Chain

Annik Sobing sits down with Omar Abuhashish, co-founder and CEO of Reform, live from the NCBFAA conference, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and the path that led him into trade technology. Omar shares his journey from growing up in Jordan to studying engineering at NYU, working in startups, and eventually building Reform with a focus on solving complex problems in supply chain and trade. The discussion highlights the importance of curiosity, strong teams, trust, and persistence in building a company with lasting impact.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Omar’s background

Startup experience and leadership

How Reform got started

Building the right team

Early wins and future vision

Because this episode gives you a real look at how a young successful trade tech founder thinks, builds, and grows. Omar Abuhashish shares the story behind Reform, the lessons he learned from startups, and what it takes to turn complex industry problems into practical solutions. If you care about entrepreneurship, innovation, or the future of supply chain, this one is worth your time.

Credits

New episodes every Monday!

Presented by Global Training Center

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

Renee Chiuchiarelli

Julie Parks

~12 minutes

In this episode of Simply Trade Tips: Hammer & Heels, Renee and Julie tackle a challenge many trade professionals quietly struggle with—delegation.

As part of the Tactical vs. Strategic series, this conversation gets real about why leaders often feel overwhelmed—and why it’s not always about workload. It’s about control.

They break down how effective delegation isn’t about offloading tasks—it’s about building capacity, developing people, and stepping into true strategic leadership.

If you’ve ever felt like everything still needs to go through you… this episode might hit a little close to home.

Most leaders aren’t overloaded because of volume—they’re overloaded because they haven’t let go.

If decisions, approvals, or progress consistently depend on you…

Fear of errors (and being accountable for them)

“It’s faster if I just do it” mindset

Lack of documented processes

Perceived skill gaps on the team

Perfectionism disguised as compliance discipline

To remain strategic, leaders must retain ownership of:

Compliance framework accountability

Risk tolerance decisions

Escalations and enforcement responses

Policy design

Executive communication

If it’s repeatable and teachable, it should leave your desk:

Initial classification research

Post-entry correction data gathering

Broker communications and follow-ups

First drafts of presentations

Audit file assembly and routine reviews

Strategic leadership requires a mindset shift:

From solving problems → designing systems

From doing the work → developing people

From control → governance and trust

When delegating, don’t just assign tasks—set your team up for success:

Clarify the outcome – Define what “good” looks like

Set guardrails – Establish risk tolerance and boundaries

Define decision rights – What can they decide vs. escalate

Use RACI alignment – Clarify roles and responsibilities

Provide tools – SOPs, templates, prior examples

Shift your role – Approve less, review smarter

Every email needs your approval

Your team waits before acting

You’re reviewing work that could be controlled upstream

You feel constantly reactive instead of proactive

👉 Delegation isn’t losing control—it’s building capability and scaling your impact.

Pick one task you regularly handle that could be delegated.

Then:

Add guardrails

Define decision rights

Assign it to your team

👉 The goal isn’t to do less—it’s to lead more strategically.

Head over to the Trade Geeks community and tell us:

Hosts:

Producer:

New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

Presented by:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

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

Trade Geeks Community — https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/portal/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

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

📧 [email protected]

Host: Cindy Allen

In this week’s episode of Simply Trade: Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen walks through a pivotal moment for the trade community as CBP prepares to officially launch the CAPE process for IEEPA duty refunds.

After weeks of uncertainty, the process is now defined—but key decisions still fall on importers and brokers, particularly around timing, post-summary corrections, and protest strategies.

At the same time, global trade tensions continue to evolve, with developments involving China’s regulatory posture, ongoing geopolitical risks in the Strait of Hormuz, and continued uncertainty around U.S. trade policy.

Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Clean, Cindy reflects on whether the industry is finally moving toward clarity after months of disruption—or simply entering a new phase of adjustment.

• No immediate movement on First Sale or Non-Resident Importer legislation

CBP is set to roll out the CAPE process on April 20, allowing importers to begin submitting refund requests tied to IEEPA tariffs.

• Filing will require only entry numbers via CSV upload

However, key decisions remain:

• Whether to file post-summary corrections before CAPE claims

• How will broker systems reconcile updated ACE data?

Cindy emphasizes that while the process is clearer, the strategy is not one-size-fits-all.

• CAPE is launching—but it’s only part of the solution

• Global Training Center

Host:

Producer:

New episodes every Friday.

Presented by Global Training Center

• Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

April 16, 2026

~31 minutes

What happens when your trade data is everywhere… and nowhere at the same time?

In this episode of Simply Trade, Andy and Lalo sit down with Brian Glick, CEO of Chain.io, to unpack one of the biggest hidden challenges in global trade: data fragmentation.

From managing dozens of brokers and freight forwarders to dealing with inconsistent data, missed red flags, and mounting compliance pressure—Brian explains why the real problem isn’t just systems… it’s visibility and control.

The conversation dives into how modern tools (including AI) are helping companies:

But this isn’t just a tech conversation. It’s a reality check.

With shifting regulations, evolving enforcement, and increasing expectations from Customs, the message is clear:

👉 If you don’t control your data, you don’t control your risk.

Trade professionals are being asked to do more—with more data, more complexity, and less margin for error.

This episode highlights a critical shift:

👉 From manual processes → to connected systems

If your organization is still relying on spreadsheets, disconnected systems, or third-party data without validation… this conversation is a wake-up call.

Produced by: Global Training Center

Stay connected with the Simply Trade community and never miss an episode that helps you trade smarter.

🎧 Listen on:

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💬 Connect with us:

Simply Trade on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

Trade Geeks Community

Host: Annik Sobing

Seven Things I’ve Learned About Trade: People, Politics, AI, and Finding Your Path

In this solo episode, Annik Sobing steps away from the usual guest format to share a more personal look at what she’s learned after years of talking with trade professionals, attending conferences, and helping tell the stories behind international trade. She reflects on how trade touches everyday life, why curiosity matters, how politics and policy shape the industry, and why AI and technology are changing the future of the field—but won’t replace the human side of it.

Trade is about people

Every package, delay, tariff, and policy decision has people behind it.

Annik explains why the human side of trade is often overlooked, even though it affects everything from Amazon deliveries to imported goods on shelves.

Trade never stands still

Regulations, tariffs, geopolitics, and supply chains shift constantly, often overnight.

She talks about how companies and consumers alike need to stay flexible and aware because the landscape can change faster than processes can be rewritten.

Politics and trade are inseparable

Trade policy is shaped by political decisions, leadership changes, and global tensions.

Annik encourages listeners to focus on understanding the “why” behind decisions rather than getting stuck in the argument over sides.

The power of questions

Interviews and conversations have taught her that good questions open doors and help people share what really matters.

She encourages listeners to ask the question anyway, even if they worry it might sound simple or awkward.

Trade affects everyday life

From higher prices on workout clothes to delays in tech products and groceries, trade has a direct impact on daily life.

She connects the behind-the-scenes work in trade to the consumer experience most people see at the store or on their doorstep.

AI is a tool, not a replacement

Annik shares her perspective that AI is here to stay, but the human side of trade still matters.

Technology can support the work, but it doesn’t replace judgment, energy, relationships, or creativity.

Advice for newcomers

Stay flexible, keep networking, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

She encourages people to find what excites them within trade, whether that’s compliance, sustainability, fashion imports, or technology.

This episode is more reflective and personal than usual, with Annik sharing how she sees her role in trade, why she enjoys the creative side of podcasting, and how the industry has changed her perspective. She also gives a shoutout to listeners who reached out on LinkedIn and says she’ll be answering some of their questions in future episodes.

New episodes every Monday!

Presented by Global Training Center

• Global Training Center on LinkedIn

Host: Cindy Allen

The Story of Us: Tariff Changes, CAPE Confusion, and the Trade Community Waiting for Answers

Cindy Allen returns with a wide-ranging trade update set to Taylor Swift’s “The Story of Us,” using the song’s theme of miscommunication to frame the current disconnect between CBP, the courts, and the trade community. From a new DHS funding update and fresh uncertainty around tariffs and valuation to the evolving CAPE refund process and the latest questions around customs business, this episode captures a moment where the trade world is working hard to keep up with fast-moving policy changes.

DHS and trade funding

DHS remains largely unfunded, although TSA funding has now passed and some CBP officers remain funded under prior legislation.

Many trade-related staff are still working without pay, and the shutdown pressure has now stretched beyond a month.

Last sale and valuation debate

Congress is still considering the last sale bill, which could eliminate last sale as a valuation method.

Cindy explains that last sale has long been treated as part of the broader transaction value framework and is supported by court history, but Congress can still change the law if it chooses.

White House tariff threats

The White House floated 50% duties on countries that sell weapons to Iran, though Cindy questions what legal authority could support that now that IEEPA has been ruled unlawful.

For China, the government could potentially revise Section 301 tariffs, but for other countries, the implementation path is unclear.

Forced labor enforcement

The Labor Department announced a new tool for assessing foreign forced labor practices, but details were sparse.

Cindy notes that CBP already has a strong forced labor framework and suggests the Labor Department may be stepping into a larger detection/enforcement role.

WTO criticism from USTR

U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer published an op-ed criticizing the World Trade Organization, signaling frustration with its current effectiveness and casting doubt on the U.S. role going forward.

Cindy highlights this as another sign that global trade institutions may be under pressure to prove relevance.

232 updates now in effect

The recent steel and aluminum 232 changes took effect on April 6.

Cindy notes that the system seems to be running smoothly, with de minimis treatment for some shipments under 15%, reduced or removed tariff coverage for certain HDS annex items, and new component-level classifications that reduce ambiguity even if the tariff burden remains high.

CBP also released guidance on April 3, which importers subject to 232 should review carefully.

USMCA remains strained

USMCA negotiations continue, but Cindy says they are tense and may not conclude by the July 1 deadline.

Despite frustration and mixed positions among the three governments, she notes the agreement still matters for North American production and U.S. manufacturing support.

Customs business ruling and trade tech

A recent customs business ruling has created concern among AI and trade tech companies, especially around whether certain activities now require a licensed customs broker.

Cindy explains that the issue muddies the water for brokers, tech providers, and importers alike and will likely require clarification from CBP.

ACE portal account requirement

CBP has rolled out a new ACE portal account application process.

Importers seeking refunds now need an ACE Portal account, and Cindy recommends checking CBP’s site or speaking with a broker to understand the new application process.

Strait of Hormuz and market impact

The war with Iran is paused for two weeks, but a reported $2 million vessel toll for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is raising alarms.

Cindy also points to Bloomberg reporting that some Asian factories are seeing 55% price increases on plastics, showing how oil transit issues ripple into fertilizers, plastics, diesel, and broader market volatility.

Cindy says she chose “The Story of Us” because the song reflects the miscommunication and silence she sees between CBP, the courts, and the trade community. The CAPE process is still being built, and while CBP has filed detailed updates with the court, the real uncertainty is how the court will interpret those filings and what rules will ultimately apply to importers.

The biggest unresolved questions remain whether finally liquidated entries will be included, whether protests or court actions will be required, and how refund filings will ultimately work. Cindy notes that the lead case changed from Artemis to a new test case after Artemis withdrew, meaning the court started over with new orders and the process remains in motion.

New episodes every Friday.

Presented by Global Training Center

• Global Training Center on LinkedIn