Simply Trade

• [TIPS] Navigating Difficult Conversations

  Episode Summary In this kickoff to Series 4, Renee Chiuchiarelli and Julie Parks dive into one of the toughest parts of any trade or corporate role: difficult conversations. Whether it’s salary discussions, performance feedback, non-compliance discoveries, or delivering perceived “bad news,” Renee and Julie break down why these conversations feel hard — and more importantly — how to approach them with clarity, preparation, and confidence. They outline: What qualifies as a difficult conversation How to prepare before you engage How to choose the right words How to use the Likes, Concerns, Suggestions (LCS) method to keep communication constructive and forward-moving This is a practical, relatable episode with real-world scenarios from their careers — perfect for trade pros, team leads, new managers, and anyone navigating delicate workplace interactions. 👉 Key Learnings Difficult conversations come in many forms: salary topics, performance discussions, non-compliance findings, and more. Preparation matters: scripting, writing things down, framing the discussion, and thinking through tone can make or break the delivery. Recapping the context is essential — your version of events may not match the receiver’s. Anticipate their questions: put yourself in the other person’s shoes before you meet. Use the LCS method: Likes → Concerns → Suggestions to structure discussions in a constructive, repeatable way. Follow-up is crucial: especially if the first contact was via email — close it with a conversation. 🛠️ Tip of the Week Use the LCS Framework (Likes, Concerns, Suggestions) to keep hard conversations clear, structured, and less emotionally charged. 📣 FIO – Figure It Out / Call to Action Practice using LCS this week — at work, at home, with your team, anywhere. Then come tell us in the Trade Geeks Community how it went! Did it make the conversation easier? Did it shift the tone? We want to hear it. 🗣️ Keep the Conversation Going Join the discussion in the Trade Geeks community and share: What difficult conversations you’re navigating Whether you tried the LCS approach What worked and what still feels challenging We’re building these series so you don’t have to figure this out alone — come learn with us. Credits Hosts Renee Chiuchiarelli LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-chiuchiarelli-lcb-ccs-8964a19/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast Julie Parks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-ann-parks/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast Producer Lalo Solorzano LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalosolorzano/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast Subscribe & Follow New TIPS episodes every Tuesday Presented by: Global Training Center — education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade pros 👉 https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast Connect with Us Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-training-center/?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 💬 Want to Be on the Show or Suggest a Topic? Email us at [email protected] Or DM us on Twitter/X: @SimplyTradePod

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• [ROUNDUP] The Art of Trade: An Attorney on Compliance Education

  Hosts: Annik Sobing ([email protected] | LinkedIn) Guest: Natalie Zink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliezink/ Producer: Annik Sobing  Length: ~15 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center Episode Overview In this episode of Simply Trade Roundup, host Annik Sobing interviews Natalie Zink, an experienced trade attorney and thought leader, about her journey in trade compliance education and why ongoing learning in this field is essential. Natalie discusses taking courses at Global Training Center and gaining practical insights into the daily challenges faced by in-house trade compliance teams. The conversation highlights key trade compliance pillars—tariff classification, country of origin, and valuation—and how a deeper understanding helps attorneys and professionals provide better business and legal advice. They also explore current issues like the upcoming IEPA Supreme Court decision and the critical role of thorough documentation in an evolving enforcement landscape. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The importance of continuous education for trade compliance professionals and attorneys alike Practical insights into how in-house compliance teams operate day-to-day The three pillars of import compliance and why they matter: tariff classification, origin, and valuation How collaboration between brokers, in-house teams, and legal counsel improves risk management Upcoming regulatory challenges, including pending Supreme Court cases affecting tariffs under IEPA The critical necessity of documenting import decisions to meet reasonable care standards and prepare for potential audits or enforcement actions Subscribe & Follow New TIPS episodes every Tuesday. 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 YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Trade Geeks Community Want to Be on the Show or Suggest a Topic? Email us at [email protected] or DM us on Twitter/X: @SimplyTradePod

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• Classify Your Thanksgiving and Frozen Turkey Bowling with QuickCode

  Episode: Thanksgiving Special 2025 Hosts: Andy Shiles & Lalo Solorzano Guest(s): Shannon Hynds, Co-Founder of QuickCode Joe Morales, Co-Founder of QuickCode Published: November 2025 Length: ~48 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center 🦃 Episode Summary This week, Andy and Lalo bring you a fun, festive, and surprisingly educational Thanksgiving special! They’re joined by long-time friends of the show, Shannon Hynds and Joe Morales from QuickCode, who accepted Lalo’s challenge to “classify Thanksgiving.” From running shoes for the Turkey Trot, to football gear, to pasta anti-dumping surprises, and even a frozen turkey for bowling (yes, seriously!), Shannon gives a behind-the-scenes walkthrough of how QuickCode uses AI to classify everyday Thanksgiving items — and how the complex tariff environment impacts the cost of your holiday table. This episode blends trade geekery with holiday traditions, showing how tariffs, food origins, USMCA benefits, anti-dumping cases, and even forced labor considerations affect the simplest things… like cinnamon. Viewers get an on-screen demo of QuickCode’s classification tools, tariff calculations, sourcing decisions, and bill-of-materials logic — so we recommend watching this episode on YouTube! Funny, insightful, and packed with practical examples, this Thanksgiving edition is a refreshing break from the usual policy-heavy episodes. 🗝️ Key Takeaways Holiday items are full of tariff surprises — from sneakers to pasta to canned fruit. Anti-dumping cases can hit unexpected products, like Italian pasta (Barilla at 19%!). IEEPA and 301 tariffs dramatically change sourcing strategies, even for food. USMCA benefits can wipe out tariffs for products like Topo Chico and tequila. QuickCode's AI-driven workflow simplifies classification but still requires human judgment for 10-digit HTS codes. Forced labor and denied party screening are becoming essential parts of import compliance. Frozen turkey bowling is a terrible but hilarious classification challenge. 🦃 Thanksgiving “Products” They Classified Nike Air Max running shoes (China) → Sneaker tariffs stack up to 47.5% Football for backyard games → Rates vary widely depending on origin Italian pasta (Barilla) → Anti-dumping shocker: 19% Canned pineapple (Brazil) → Eligible for agricultural exemption on IEEPA Cinnamon → Most sourced from Indonesia Ranch Water components (Tequila, mineral water, limes) → USMCA to the rescue Tamales → A surprisingly complex classification Frozen turkey for bowling → Novelty sports equipment??? (Maybe.) 🍽️ Resources & Mentions QuickCode – Trade classification and compliance automation https://www.quickcode.ai/ Shannon Hynds (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-hynds/ Joe Morales (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-morales-a6036634/ U.S. Customs & Border Protection – HTSUS https://hts.usitc.gov/ 🙌 Credits Presented by: Global Training Center Hosts: Andy Shiles & Lalo Solorzano Guests: Shannon Hynds, Co-Founder of QuickCode – LinkedIn Joe Morales, Co-Founder of QuickCode – LinkedIn Producer: Lalo Solorzano Special Thanks: QuickCode for providing the live classification demo and Thanksgiving chaos 📢 Subscribe & Follow Stay connected with the Simply Trade community! LinkedIn – Global Training Center https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-training-center?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast LinkedIn – Cindy Allen https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-allen-a3188210/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast YouTube – Simply Trade Podcast 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://globaltrainingcenter.com/portal/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcas

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• [NCBFAA] Transportation Committee Year in Review

  NCBFAA Transportation Committee Spotlight: 2025 Wins, 2026 Priorities & Industry Insights Host: Lalo Solorzano Guest(s): Kim Calicott — NCBFAA Transportation Committee Chair - LinkedIn Rich Roche — NVOCC Subcommittee Chair - LinkedIn Donna Kavanaugh — Export Compliance Subcommittee Chair- LinkedIn Published: November 26, 2026 Length: ~ 44 min. Presented by: Global Training Center — globaltrainingcenter.com Episode Summary In this special collaboration with the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), Simply Trade launches a multi-episode series highlighting the critical work of NCBFAA committees. This episode features the Transportation Committee, covering NVOCC activity, export compliance, air freight, logistics, and the evolving regulatory landscape. Host Lalo Solorzano speaks with committee chair Kim Calicott, along with subcommittee leaders Rich Roche (NVOCC) and Donna Kavanaugh (Export Compliance). The group breaks down the major wins and challenges of 2025, key regulatory shifts, and what members should expect heading into 2026. Key Learnings & Themes 1. Transportation Committee Overview Kim explains the structure of the Transportation Committee and its four subcommittees: NVOCC Subcommittee (Rich Roche): Guidance on OSRA, FMC rulemaking, D&D billing, “clear as mud” interpretations, and a forthcoming NVOCC Best Practices Working Group. Export Compliance Subcommittee (Donna Kavanaugh): Monitoring regulatory activity from BIS, OFAC, Census, CBP, and DDTC while educating members on practical impacts. Air Freight Subcommittee (Donna Mullins): Infrastructure modernization efforts, partnership with the Airforwarders Association (AFA), and involvement in a GAO study on air cargo facility conditions. Logistics Committee: Watching driver shortages, truck/equipment tariff impacts, Electronic Export Manifest (EEM) development, and alignment with international systems like ICS2. 2. 2025 Regulatory Swing Highlights include: FMC’s D&D Final Rule implementation and the section struck down by the courts. BIS tightening China-related controls and reevaluating rules inherited from prior administrations. Pause on the significant Affiliates Rule, which may reemerge in 2026. Changing rules related to firearms, AI, and Syria sanctions. “Clear as mud” advisory responses from FMC’s General Counsel. 3. Advocacy That Makes a Difference NCBFAA’s early engagement with agencies prevents harmful regulatory outcomes—such as removing unintended burdens on NVOCCs in OSRA’s original wording. 4. Encouragement for New Participants Both Kim and Donna stress: No one starts out knowing everything Every question matters Committee involvement accelerates growth and strengthens the industry The association thrives on collaboration across company size, mode, and experience level 5. Looking Ahead to 2026 Key upcoming items include: Launch of the NVOCC Best Practices Working Group Ongoing work on EEM and air cargo modernization BIS rule reviews after the Affiliates Rule pause Continued focus on driver shortages and equipment tariffs NVOCC Day 2026 in New Orleans on January 22 Takeaways for Listeners NCBFAA membership is valuable for all trade professionals—brokers, forwarders, logistics providers, and affiliates. Exporting remains highly regulated and rapidly evolving—missteps can be significant. Committee participation is one of the most impactful ways to deepen knowledge and support industry-wide improvements. Agencies are shifting priorities quickly; staying informed is essential. Resources Mentioned Here are all referenced agencies, programs, and industry groups with embedded official links: NCBFAA & Industry Associations NCBFAA — ncbfaa.org Airforwarders Association (AFA) — airforwarders.org Government Accountability Office (GAO) — gao.gov Regulatory Agencies Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) — fmc.gov Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) — bis.doc.gov Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) — home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/ofac U.S. Census Bureau (AES/Exports) — census.gov/foreign-trade/aes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — cbp.gov Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — tsa.gov Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC / ITAR) — pmddtc.state.gov Regulations / Programs OSRA – Ocean Shipping Reform Act — FMC OSRA Overview Demerage & Detention (D&D) Final Rule — FMC Rulemaking Electronic Export Manifest (EEM) — CBP EEM Information ICS2 – EU Import Control System 2 — European Commission ICS2 Credits Host: Lalo Solorzano — Global Training Center Guests: Kim Calicott — LinkedIn Rich Roche — LinkedIn Donna Kavanaugh — LinkedIn Presented by: Global Training Center — Website / LinkedIn Subscribe & Follow YouTube: Simply Trade Channel Spotify: Simply Trade on Spotify Apple Podcasts: Simply Trade on Apple Podcasts Trade Geeks Community: Join Trade Geeks

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• [TIPS] Taking a Lap

  Hosts: Renee Chiuchiarelli & Julie Parks Published: November 25, 2025 Length: ~10 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center 🎙️ Episode Summary In this final installment of the Managing a Project series, Renee and Julie close things out with one of the most overlooked — yet most impactful — phases of any project: Taking a Lap. Whether your project was large and complex or small and focused, how you wrap it up matters. Today’s tips center on: 1️⃣ Celebration & Recognition The moment a project wraps is the moment to pause and recognize the people who made it possible. Renee and Julie break down practical ways to shine a spotlight on contributors, including: Recognition emails (even ghostwritten for leaders) Monetary or non-monetary awards Shout-outs in staff meetings Company swag Sharing stories and standout moments Formal celebration moments — both virtual and in person Celebration isn’t superficial — it drives morale, retention, engagement, and team culture. 2️⃣ Lessons Learned Once the recognition is done, it’s time for reflection: What worked really well? What slowed things down? What would you do differently next time? What should future teams know before they repeat the process? Documenting lessons learned helps the next phase, the next project, or even the next team hit the ground running — and ensures knowledge doesn't disappear due to turnover or time. 3️⃣ Applying This Beyond “Projects” Renee and Julie remind listeners that “projects” aren’t just software implementations or multi-month changes. A compliance issue that took months to resolve? That's a project. Broker management improvements? A project. Process enhancements? Also a project. And all of them deserve: ✨ Celebration ✨ Documentation ✨ Reflection FIO — Figure It Out (This Week’s Action) Practice celebrating. Identify something — big or small — that you, your team, or a colleague recently completed. Call it out Share it upward Tell the story Recognize the impact Spread it broadly so leadership sees your team’s value Then hop over to the Trade Geeks Community and share your celebration moment! Keep the Conversation Going Join the discussion inside the Trade Geeks community! 👉 What has your team recently accomplished? 👉 Did you “take a lap”? 👉 What did you learn along the way? Continue the conversation here: Trade Geeks Community Credits Hosts: Renee Chiuchiarelli https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-chiuchiarelli-lcb-ccs-8964a19/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast Julie Parks https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-ann-parks/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast Producer: Lalo Solorzano https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalosolorzano/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast 🎧 Subscribe & Follow New TIPS episodes every Tuesday. Presented by: Global Training Center — education, consulting, workshops & compliance resources for trade professionals. 👉 https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast Connect With Us: Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn Global Training Center on LinkedIn 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 & share with your fellow trade geeks! Want to Be on the Show or Have Topic Suggestions? 📧 [email protected] 🐦 Twitter/X: @SimplyTradePod

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