Career Path:  Trade compliance was not her initial practice area right out of law school.  Midway through her career she found an interest in trade compliance and has been in the industry now for 9 years.

US export compliance compared with other countries:  US export regulations are far more reaching than other country's regulations.  Deemed exports and secondary sanctions are unique to US regulation.

Academic side of trade compliance:  She teaches law and trade compliance to law students and also teacher through the Denver World Trade Center.

World Trade Center:  There are 330 World Trade Centers around the world and while each of their mission statements are different, they offer similar services such as education, networking, and assistance to exporters.

Mentoring:  Networking and finding a mentor helps you to find out what jobs are actually available in international trade.  Mentors are not there to give you a job, they are there to introduce you to people in the industry and weigh opportunities that come your way.  The job of a mentor is to expand horizons not narrow them.

Three divisions of international trade:

How can you get a global view when you just learn your country's law? 

Should a trade compliance team report to the business or to the legal team?

Contact us:

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @Tradepodcast

Full episode transcript available on my website: Season 1: Episode 2 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

SHOW NOTES Cindy Deleon is the principal of Deleon consulting.  She started as entry level auditor (requires accounting bachelors degree), then a senior auditor, then an assistant field director of the Chicago office.  In 2007, she moved to Texas and started doing consulting work while waiting for government transfer paperwork.   Importers come to Deleon trade because (1) they have received a “request for information” from customs and need to respond to an issue or (2) they are being audited or (3) least commonly, are being proactive. Two general types of audit (1) single issue audit (classification, value, or FTA eligibility) or (2) focused assessment.  There is a misconception that customs isn't doing focused assessment anymore but she can attest that they are. The objective a focused assessment is to determine whether the company has adequate internal control and written procedures to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. 5 components of internal control: Controlled environment Controlled activities (written policy) Risk assessment (to focus limited resources on the greatest risk)  Information and communication (within company and with brokers and suppliers) Monitoring (internal audits) Importance/usefulness of Automation: no matter how good the provider it all comes down to whether it's used properly and what systems the importer/exports has and what data is accessible. Deciding a career path: don’t worry about deciding your whole career now many different paths auditing, brokerage, importer get a brokerage license Mentoring:  every hurdle can be solved with food be prepared, have questions, truly interested  most people want to give back Professional organizations & Certifications: National customs brokers and freight forwarders association: cert customs specialist and certified export specialist (Federico zunida) - National education institute OWIT - Houston not active but other cities are active and are fantastic License customs broker certification Do you have to choose a speciality within International trade compliance?(import or export) It takes a certain personality to be a compliance person because there is so much detail start out in brokerage help with paperwork and learn, then move to work for an importer with gradually increasing responsibilities many people start in logistics and move to compliance as responsibilities expand then more formal training should follow Educational background required for this career path: Many different degrees are relevant:  supply chain, accounting, finance, Legal, or no college degree its really a manner of continuing education and making sure your skill set and background is well suited for your responsibilities 

Contact us:

Email:  [email protected]

Twitter: @TradePodcast

Full episode transcript available on my website: Season 1: Episode 1 (kelliekemock.wixsite.com)

A 2017 presentation summarizing the three days of hearings on NAFTA renegotiation and comparison to the USTR list of goals.

Original publication on you tube with slide presentation is located at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpgUiNkkIn8&t=38s