Simply Trade

Host: Cindy Allen
Published: August 28, 2026
Length: Not provided
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
There’s “Bad Blood” in North American trade—and Cindy Allen is breaking down why.

In this episode of Simply Trade: Cindy’s Version, Cindy uses Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” as the backdrop for a packed international trade update. At the center is the escalating U.S.-Canada trade dispute, including U.S. Section 338 duties and Canada’s planned dollar-for-dollar retaliation. With neither side appearing ready to back down, importers should prepare for continued uncertainty and potential legal challenges.

But tariffs are only part of the story.

Cindy examines concerns surrounding IEEPA tariff refunds and debt offsets, the potentially sweeping implications of the administration’s approach to “transshipment,” and evolving foreign importer-of-record requirements that could place new responsibilities on customs brokers.

She also explains growing questions around importer vetting, CBP Form 5106, CTPAT certification, and the elimination of the “flying trucks” practice affecting express carriers.

The takeaway: longstanding assumptions about country of origin, importer responsibilities, brokerage practices, and North American trade are being challenged at the same time.

This Week in Trade
• IEEPA tariff refunds, CAPE delays, and concerns about government debt offsets

• “The Great Transshipment Scam” and its potential impact on country-of-origin determinations

• New foreign importer-of-record, CTPAT, customs broker, and importer-vetting requirements

• Escalating U.S.-Canada trade tensions and potential retaliation

Main Topic / Discussion
The centerpiece of this episode is the growing trade conflict between the United States and Canada.

Cindy discusses the imposition of Section 338 duties on certain Canadian goods at 50% and Canada’s planned dollar-for-dollar retaliation on U.S. products beginning September 8. She explains why the dispute matters beyond the immediate tariffs: it comes amid broader negotiations over the future of USMCA and alongside other policy changes that could disproportionately affect Canadian companies importing into the United States.

The episode also explores a broader shift in customs enforcement. Cindy highlights the administration’s approach to transshipment and how treating foreign components as retaining their own essential character could challenge longstanding approaches to substantial transformation and country-of-origin determinations.

For importers and customs brokers, these developments could mean significantly more data, due diligence, compliance obligations, and potential liability.

Key Takeaways
• Importers receiving IEEPA duty refunds should monitor whether disputed federal or state debts are being offset against those refunds.

• The government’s evolving interpretation of transshipment could dramatically increase the component-level information importers need to obtain and report.

• Foreign importer-of-record rules could create new CTPAT requirements and increase responsibilities and potential liability for customs brokers.

• The U.S.-Canada tariff dispute may continue escalating, with additional retaliation and legal challenges possible.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center

• CBP Form 5106 and importer-of-record requirements

• Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT)

• USMCA

• IEEPA tariff litigation and refund developments

• Section 338 duties and U.S.-Canada trade developments

Credits
Host:
Cindy Allen

Guest(s):
N/A

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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Host: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles
Guest(s): Kathleen August
Published: August 27, 2026
Length: ~30 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
How ready would your company be if U.S. Customs and Border Protection came knocking tomorrow?

In this episode of Simply Trade, hosts Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles sit down with former CBP auditor Kathleen August to discuss why being “audit ready” is no longer enough. With more than 33 years of experience on the CBP side of the desk, Kathleen offers an insider’s perspective on today’s enforcement environment and explains why importers need to become truly “Customs Ready.”

The conversation covers the growing importance of CF28 responses, ACE data, internal controls, record retention, post-entry reviews, supply-chain visibility, and cross-functional communication. Kathleen also explains why having a trade compliance manual sitting on a shelf doesn’t equal an effective compliance program. Companies need procedures tailored to their operations—and executable tools that employees actually use.

From unexpected changes in entered value to country-of-origin questions, forced labor concerns, USMCA documentation, and shifting sourcing strategies, CBP has more data and analytical capability than ever before.

The message for importers is clear: know your data, know your supply chain, document your processes, and be prepared to respond before Customs asks the question.

Main Topic / Discussion
Being audit ready is important—but Kathleen argues that today’s importers need to go further and become Customs Ready.

With CBP operating in an enforcement-focused environment, companies may encounter CF28s, questions about their supply chains, entry reviews, or other inquiries even if they are never selected for a full audit.

Kathleen explains that a strong compliance foundation starts with documented internal controls tailored specifically to the company. But documentation alone isn’t enough. Companies need “executable documents”—checklists, logs, databases, classification records, broker procedures, and other tools that turn a compliance manual into everyday action.

The discussion also highlights the importance of reviewing ACE data from CBP’s perspective. Changes in entered value, country of origin, classification, sourcing, or other entry information can create patterns that draw attention. As Kathleen puts it, Customs is like a highly capable chess opponent—and they may already be “two steps ahead.”

Importers also need visibility beyond the trade compliance department. Sales, purchasing, engineering, finance, sourcing, and leadership can all make decisions that affect customs compliance. Tooling assists, supplier changes, certificates of origin, USMCA qualification, and sourcing shifts are just a few examples.

Ultimately, becoming Customs Ready means building a system that allows the organization to identify problems, maintain records, respond to questions, and pivot quickly as tariffs and enforcement priorities change.

Key Takeaways
• Be Customs Ready, not just audit ready. A full CBP audit is only one potential compliance event. Importers also need to be prepared for CF28s, investigations, and questions about individual entries or their broader supply chain.

• Document internal controls—and actually use them. Compliance procedures should be customized to the company rather than copied from a generic manual. Pair written procedures with executable tools such as checklists, CF28 logs, databases, classification records, and broker instructions.

• Know what your ACE data says about you. CBP can identify changes and patterns across entries. Importers should review their own data for unusual shifts in value, classification, country of origin, sourcing, and other areas before those patterns generate questions.

• Understand your entire supply chain. Know who you are buying from, where products and components originate, where transformation or assembly occurs, and when suppliers or production locations change.

• Conduct post-entry reviews. Don’t assume the broker entered everything correctly. Monitoring entries can help identify errors early and, in some cases, allow companies to correct problems in real time.

• Make compliance cross-functional. Sales, purchasing, engineering, finance, sourcing, and trade compliance all affect customs outcomes. Compliance cannot operate effectively in a silo.

• Maintain accessible records. A record retention policy is only useful if the organization can quickly retrieve the documentation needed to respond to CBP.

• Be ready to pivot. Tariffs and trade requirements can change quickly. Companies need processes, expertise, and resources that allow them to adapt without sacrificing compliance.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center

• Kathleen August - LinkedIn

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

• CBP Form 28 (CF28)

• USMCA

• Section 232 tariffs

• Foreign Trade Zones and bonded warehouses

• Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) / antidumping enforcement

Credits
Host:
Lalo Solorzano
Andy Shiles

Guest(s):
Kathleen August - LinkedIn

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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Host: Lalo Solorzano
Guest(s): Kim Campbell, Mollie Sitkowski
Published: August 26, 2026
Length: 26 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
Canada-U.S. trade tensions are escalating again—and trade professionals on both sides of the border need to move quickly.

In this special episode of Simply Trade, host Lalo Solorzano is joined by Canadian trade expert Kim Campbell and Section 338 expert Mollie Sitkowski to break down Canada's newly announced retaliatory tariffs and what businesses should be doing before they take effect.

Kim explains Canada's dollar-for-dollar retaliation strategy, including tariff increases affecting more than a thousand tariff lines and some products potentially facing significant additional costs. She also highlights an important distinction for traders: while CUSMA/USMCA qualification may reduce the underlying duty rate, it does not exempt goods from these retaliatory tariffs.

Mollie provides the U.S. perspective, including what businesses should understand about Section 338, origin determinations, classification reviews, and the risks of changing tariff classifications simply to escape today's tariff exposure.

Beyond customs compliance, the conversation examines the growing economic consequences of the dispute—from Canadian buying behavior and tourism to cross-border businesses and supply chains.

The message for trade professionals is clear: verify your data, understand your exposure, communicate with your customs partners, and watch official government guidance closely.

Main Topic / Discussion
Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs following the implementation of U.S. Section 338 measures. Kim Campbell and Mollie Sitkowski explain how the Canadian and U.S. measures interact, where CUSMA/USMCA does—and does not—provide relief, and what importers should review immediately.

Canada's Retaliatory Tariffs
Canada's response is designed around dollar-for-dollar retaliation. According to Kim, the new measures cover more than a thousand tariff lines and build upon earlier surtax measures, with some existing rates increasing substantially.

One particularly important point: CUSMA qualification does not eliminate Canada's retaliatory tariff. A qualifying product may receive a zero base duty rate while still being subject to the applicable retaliation rate.

Classification and Origin Matter
Both Kim and Mollie stress the importance of reviewing tariff classifications rather than assuming historical classifications are correct.

Mollie also cautions businesses against changing classifications simply because another tariff provision currently appears more favorable. Tariff measures can change quickly, and repeated classification changes without a defensible technical basis can create additional customs risk.

For U.S. Section 338 purposes, importers should also carefully review the applicable origin rules, including USMCA marking rules for Canadian goods.

Remission Opportunities in Canada
Canadian importers should determine whether an existing remission order applies to their goods. Businesses experiencing hardship or situations where goods cannot reasonably be sourced in Canada may also be able to apply for remission.

Importers should communicate proactively with their customs brokers. A broker cannot necessarily know that an importer qualifies for a remission unless the importer provides the necessary information and instructions.

The Bigger Cross-Border Impact
The consequences extend beyond duty bills. Kim describes a strong Buy Canadian movement, reduced Canadian travel to the United States, changes in consumer purchasing, and provincial restrictions affecting U.S. alcohol sales.

The longer these disruptions continue, the greater the possibility that businesses and consumers develop new purchasing habits and supplier relationships that may not immediately reverse when tariffs disappear.

Key Takeaways
• Canada's retaliatory tariffs are designed as a dollar-for-dollar response to U.S. trade measures, with implementation scheduled for September 8 as discussed in the episode.

• CUSMA/USMCA qualification may eliminate the normal duty rate, but it does not exempt qualifying goods from Canada's retaliatory tariff.

• Importers should verify tariff classifications, product descriptions, origin determinations, and eligibility for available Canadian remission orders.

• Do not reclassify merchandise simply to escape today's tariff list. Classification must remain technically supportable, and future tariff actions could change the economics again.

• Canadian importers that qualify for remission need to communicate that information to their customs brokers so the appropriate treatment can be applied.

• Businesses should monitor official government and customs guidance closely because implementation details and tariff measures can change quickly.

• The effects of the dispute extend beyond customs duties into tourism, consumer purchasing, cross-border communities, sourcing decisions, and long-term commercial relationships.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center

• Finance Canada tariff and remission guidance — listeners should consult the current official Government of Canada guidance for the latest tariff lists, remission orders, and implementation details discussed in this episode.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance — monitor current official notices and implementation instructions relating to Section 338 and other applicable trade measures.

• Kim Campbell - LinkedIn

• Mollie Sitkowski - LinkedIn

Credits
Host:
Lalo Solorzano

Guest(s):
Kim Campbell - LinkedIn

Mollie Sitkowski - LinkedIn

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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Host: Andy Shiles
Guest(s): Jennifer Amos, President, Memphis World Trade Club
Published: August 24, 2026
Length: ~22 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
The Compliance Cowboy is riding into Memphis—and there’s a lot happening in one of America’s most important logistics hubs.

Simply Trade host Andy Shiles sits down with Jennifer Amos, President of the Memphis World Trade Club and Director of Sales at Dunavant Logistics, to talk about the growth, infrastructure, innovation, and people powering the Memphis logistics community.

At the center of the conversation is Memphis World Trade Week, including the Memphis Logistics Summit on September 30 and Tech Innovation Day and the 75th anniversary of Port Night on October 1. Jennifer explains how the World Trade Club, Greater Memphis Chamber, and Epicenter Memphis are bringing established industry leaders, technology startups, carriers, beneficial cargo owners, and logistics professionals together.

Andy and Jennifer also explore why Memphis continues to matter as a distribution hub—from rail and interstate connectivity to air cargo and the Mississippi River—and why logistics careers extend far beyond warehouses and trucks.

And yes, Andy plans to show up to Port Night the way longtime Memphis trade folks might remember him: cowboy hat, boots, and all.

Main Topic / Discussion
Memphis has long been a major transportation and distribution center, but its logistics community continues to evolve through new infrastructure, technology, talent development, and collaboration.

Jennifer Amos previews the Memphis World Trade Club’s upcoming events and explains how Memphis World Trade Week is designed to connect the different pieces of that ecosystem.

The conversation covers the September 30 Memphis Logistics Summit at the Peabody, followed on October 1 by Tech Innovation Day at Epicenter Memphis and the Memphis World Trade Club’s 75th Port Night in the Peabody’s Grand Ballroom.

Andy and Jennifer also discuss the value of face-to-face industry relationships. From monthly World Trade Club meetings to an event expected to attract logistics executives and professionals from around the world, Memphis provides opportunities to build a network—not just exchange business cards.

Key Takeaways
• Memphis remains a major logistics hub. Its combination of air cargo, Class I railroads, interstate connections, the Mississippi River, warehousing, and distribution infrastructure makes the region strategically important for freight movement.

• Memphis World Trade Week is growing. The September 30 Logistics Summit leads into an October 1 technology-focused event and the 75th anniversary of Port Night.

• Technology is changing logistics careers. The industry needs talent in IT, finance, analytics, operations, automation, technology, and other supporting disciplines—not just traditional transportation roles.

• Relationships still matter. Jennifer and Andy emphasize the value of industry organizations and in-person events for meeting decision-makers, sharing ideas, developing talent, and building long-term professional relationships.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center

• Memphis World Trade Club

• Memphis Logistics Summit — September 30

• Tech Innovation Day — October 1

• Memphis World Trade Club 75th Port Night — October 1

• Greater Memphis Chamber

• Epicenter Memphis

Credits
Host:
Andy Shiles

Guest(s):
Jennifer Amos - LinkedIn

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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Host: Lalo Solorzano, Andy Shiles
Guest(s): Hugo Pakula
Published: TBD
Length: ~33 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
Customs compliance isn’t just getting more complicated—enforcement is getting smarter.

In this episode of Simply Trade, hosts Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles sit down with Hugo Pakula, founder of Tru Identity, to examine how technology, data, and changing enforcement priorities are reshaping the relationship between U.S. Customs and Border Protection, importers, and customs brokers.

The conversation explores a fundamental shift: being compliant may no longer be enough. Importers and brokers increasingly need to be able to demonstrate compliance through accurate data, documented controls, and processes capable of identifying risk before cargo reaches the border.

Hugo discusses why strong master data is becoming critical, how CBP's increasingly sophisticated approach to targeting changes the compliance equation, and why companies should focus less on simply processing more entries and more on building systems that balance speed, accuracy, and control.

The discussion also examines Executive Order 14411, Strengthening Customs Enforcement, and what heightened enforcement, supply-chain visibility, penalty policies, and risk-based scrutiny could mean for trade professionals.

The takeaway for leadership: compliance shouldn't be viewed only as a cost center. Done well, it can become a strategic advantage.

Main Topic / Discussion
From Reactive Compliance to Proactive Risk Management
For years, importers could discover a problem only after a shipment reached the port and CBP intervened. Hugo argues that the better model is identifying discrepancies earlier—before they become holds, penalties, audits, or costly delays.

That requires companies to think beyond simply processing transactions. Importers and brokers need reliable master data and processes capable of examining information across shipments, products, suppliers, and supply chains.

Being Compliant vs. Proving Compliance
One of Hugo's central points is that compliance now has two dimensions: doing the work correctly and being able to demonstrate that the work was done correctly.

As enforcement technology becomes more sophisticated, companies need the records, controls, and data to support their decisions. That becomes particularly important when CBP may have information about suppliers or deeper tiers of a supply chain that an importer does not immediately see.

Executive Order 14411 and Stronger Enforcement
The episode discusses Executive Order 14411, Strengthening Customs Enforcement, issued June 3, 2026. The order calls for a series of customs reforms, including heightened importer requirements, additional supply-chain disclosures, stronger enforcement measures, revised mitigation standards, and risk-based approaches to importers.

For importers and brokers, the message is clear: waiting until CBP identifies a problem is an increasingly risky strategy.

Back to the Basics: Better Data
Despite all the discussion about AI and automation, Hugo argues that the industry's future also looks surprisingly familiar.

Companies still need to answer foundational questions:

• What is the product?
• What is it made of?
• Who is involved in making it?
• What is its intended use?

Clean, structured master data around those questions can make it easier to respond when tariffs, trade remedies, enforcement priorities, or other requirements change.

Compliance as a Growth Lever
The episode closes with an important message for executives: compliance doesn't have to be treated purely as overhead.

Better compliance data can support impact analysis, sourcing decisions, forecasting, risk management, and more strategic relationships between importers and customs brokers. Freeing compliance professionals from constant reactive work can give them more time to deliver that strategic value.

Key Takeaways
• Being compliant isn't the finish line. Importers and brokers increasingly need to be able to demonstrate their compliance with reliable data and documented controls.

• Master data matters. Understanding product composition, manufacturers, suppliers, and other underlying attributes creates a stronger foundation for responding to changing trade requirements.

• Think proactively, not reactively. Finding a discrepancy before goods reach the border is far better than discovering it after CBP holds the cargo.

• Treat compliance as a strategic capability. Strong compliance can support better sourcing, forecasting, risk management, and business decisions—not just prevent penalties.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center

• Tru Identity

• Tru Identity + U.S. Customs and Border Protection

• Executive Order 14411 — Strengthening Customs Enforcement

• Hugo Pakula — LinkedIn

Credits
Host:
Lalo Solorzano
Andy Shiles

Guest(s):
Hugo Pakula - LinkedIn

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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Want to be on the show or have topic suggestions?
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