Simply Trade

Host: Cindy Allen
Published: October 30, 2026
Length: ~ 14 min
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
Who stays to do the work after the party is over? In this episode of Simply Trade: Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen uses Taylor Swift’s “New Year’s Day” to explore a question every importer should ask: what makes a customs broker a true partner when trade requirements change?

In her October 30 trade update, Cindy discusses Canadian Section 338 tariff litigation, CAPE refund developments, USTR activity, and enforcement concerns affecting the trade community. She then turns from the headlines to the people responsible for putting changes into practice—especially Northern Border customs brokers managing the tariff changes described in the episode.

The focus is not just on filing entries. It is on identifying affected clients, working through complex duty-treatment questions, coordinating entry and entry-summary timing, and communicating when decisions cannot wait. Cindy highlights the preparation and judgment behind that work, including the limits of automated tools when the details get complicated.

For importers, brokers, and compliance teams, this episode is a reminder to look beyond the visible transaction. The strongest partnerships are built on the quieter work that keeps both sides informed, prepared, and aligned long after the announcement lands.

This Week in Trade
• Section 338 litigation and CAPE refunds: Cindy reviews the challenge to Canadian tariffs, CAPE 3 developments involving protested entries, and the plaintiffs’ request for a CAPE 4 process covering antidumping and countervailing duty entries.

• USTR and Section 232 reviews: The roundup includes expected recommendations from the Section 301 overcapacity investigations, Airbus subsidy concerns, and the outcome Cindy reports from the robotics and industrial machinery review.

• Capitol Hill and Russian fuel imports: Cindy discusses political criticism of Canadian tariff adjustments and warnings to banks, ports, and fuel distributors about their involvement in Russian fuel imports.

• FMC enforcement: Cindy highlights increased scrutiny of ocean transportation intermediaries and the importance of having processes and procedures ready to address regulatory inquiries.

Main Topic / Discussion
Customs Broker Partnerships Beyond the Routine Entry
Cindy uses “New Year’s Day” as a metaphor for the work that happens outside the spotlight: preparation, coordination, and follow-through when tariff changes create difficult operational questions.

Her focus is on Northern Border customs brokers navigating the changes discussed in the episode. Identifying affected shipments is only the beginning. Brokers must also work through duty-treatment details, entry and entry-summary timing, and client communication—tasks Cindy explains cannot always be handled through automated tools alone.

The question for importers: who is prepared to work alongside you when the details become complicated, not just when everything is running smoothly?

Key Takeaways
• Look beyond the filing. A broker’s value includes the preparation, analysis, and communication that happen before an entry is submitted.

• Timing deserves close coordination. Cindy highlights how tariff transitions can raise questions about shipment timing, entry processing, and entry-summary filing.

• Reports do not replace judgment. Identifying affected transactions is different from resolving the complex duty-treatment questions behind them.

• Make the quiet work visible. Importers should recognize their brokers’ behind-the-scenes contributions, and brokers should communicate the work involved in supporting their clients.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center
• Cindy Allen on LinkedIn
• Trade Force Multiplier — the global trade consultancy Cindy introduces in the episode.
• Taylor Swift’s “New Year’s Day,” from Reputation — the musical inspiration for this discussion.
• U.S. Court of International Trade — Cindy references filings involving Section 338 and CAPE refund developments.

Credits
Host:
Cindy Allen

Guest(s):
N/A

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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Host: Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles
Guest(s): Julie Ann Parks and Eugene Laney Jr., Ph.D.
Published: October 29, 2026
Length: ~38:40
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
Your trade team is getting more attention—but is it getting the resources, authority, and technology to match?

Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles welcome Julie Ann Parks of Altana and Eugene Laney Jr., Ph.D., of the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) to explore what it takes to move from constant firefighting to genuine trade readiness. Drawing on the joint Altana–AAEI report, The State of Enterprise Trade & Customs Organizations, the conversation examines the gap between growing expectations and the support available to meet them.

The discussion goes beyond keeping shipments moving. Where should trade compliance sit within an organization? What information should teams have before goods reach the border? And how can compliance leaders make a stronger business case for investment?

Julie and Eugene connect those questions to practical challenges: scattered product data, legacy systems, limited budgets, and uncertainty about AI. They also explain why automation should create room for human judgment—not replace it.

The episode closes with actionable “figure it out” advice for testing readiness, understanding the business impact of an enforcement response, and finding internal allies. For trade professionals preparing a resource request—and executives evaluating one—this conversation offers a starting point for turning compliance pressure into a more strategic role.

Main Topic / Discussion
The episode centers on using trade-readiness research to build a business case for change. The linked Altana–AAEI report surveyed 230 enterprise trade leaders: 51% of teams did not meet its trade-readiness threshold, while only 26% felt their resources had grown enough to keep pace. Altana

Julie and Eugene explore how reporting structures, budget authority, and access to product and supplier information influence a team’s ability to prepare before goods move. The conversation also tackles AI adoption, with an emphasis on automating mechanical work while retaining expert review. Their practical challenge: simulate a detention or CF-28 response, document the effort and business impact, and use that evidence to explain what needs to change.

Key Takeaways
• Move decisions ahead of the shipment. Julie emphasizes resolving product and compliance questions before goods are moving, rather than making last-minute intervention the default operating model.

• Make the business case in terms leadership understands. Connect resource requests to cycle times, sourcing decisions, tariff mitigation, and the costs of responding to enforcement—not just the compliance team’s workload.

• Give trade information a reliable home. The discussion highlights the need to bring product attributes, supplier relationships, and compliance information together rather than continually chasing answers across disconnected systems and spreadsheets.

• Pair technology with expertise and internal allies. Automate repeatable work, retain human validation, and involve IT in compliance education. Eugene also encourages identifying the people who can help communicate the program’s value to executive leadership.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center
• Altana + AAEI Trade Readiness Report: The State of Enterprise Trade & Customs Organizations

Credits
Host:
Lalo Solorzano
Andy Shiles

Guest(s):
Julie Ann Parks — LinkedIn
Eugene Laney Jr., Ph.D. — LinkedIn

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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Host: Lalo Solorzano
Guest(s): Ashley Arnold, Global Training Center instructor
Published: October 28, 2026
Length: Approximately 14 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
The shipment cleared customs. The goods were delivered. That means the entry is finished, right? Not so fast.

In Episode 4 of 90 Days Until 2027, Lalo Solorzano welcomes Global Training Center instructor Ashley Arnold with a reminder: customs release is not the end of the entry life cycle. Her year-end tip is to review what happened during the rush to get shipments moving—and address the issues that may still need attention.

Ashley explains why importers working with multiple brokers should compare classifications, run ACE reports, and confirm that supporting documents are actually available. She also encourages listeners to include DDP shipments in their review rather than overlooking them once the goods have arrived.

The discussion explores how a newly understood requirement or an incorrect Chapter 99 number can lead a team back to earlier entries. A review may reveal a problem to correct or a potential duty-recovery opportunity, but timing matters.

For teams already stretched thin, Ashley offers a manageable starting point: an entry number, an issue, and someone responsible for following through. This episode is about turning a year-end check into a repeatable habit—not adding another overwhelming project to your list.

Main Topic / Discussion
Review the entry—not just the shipment’s delivery status.

Lalo and Ashley discuss a year-end review of entry data, broker classification consistency, and supporting records. Ashley recommends using ACE reports to look for discrepancies and checking other entries when an issue appears in one. They also discuss post-summary corrections, protests, and why identifying a potential correction or recovery opportunity is only useful when the applicable deadlines receive attention.

To keep the work manageable, Ashley shares her three-column approach: entry number, issue, owner. Assign responsibility, communicate the deadline, and follow up. The conversation also covers their expectations of closer supply-chain scrutiny and Ashley’s encouragement to ask questions and participate in public-comment opportunities.

Key Takeaways
• Customs release is not the finish line. Ashley urges importers to revisit entries, run ACE reports, and compare classifications across brokers instead of treating delivery as the end of the review.

• One error deserves a broader look. Finding an incorrect Chapter 99 number or learning that a requirement was interpreted differently should prompt a review of other potentially affected entries. Evaluate the next steps before applicable correction or protest deadlines pass.

• Electronic storage is not the same as verified access. Check that the supporting documents are actually present and retrievable. Ashley also recommends including DDP shipments in the review.

• Give every issue an owner. Start with Ashley’s three-column tracker: entry number, issue, owner. Delegate the work, communicate when it is needed, and follow up rather than assuming the handoff resolved the problem.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center

• Ashley Arnold — LinkedIn

• Ashley Arnold — Global Training Center Instructor Profile

• CBP — ACE Reports

• Additional Background: CBP’s Supply-Chain Visibility Request for Comments

Follow Simply Trade for updates on companion resources and the 90 Days Until 2027 playbook.

This episode provides general educational information. Confirm the requirements and deadlines applicable to your entries before taking corrective action.

Credits
Host:
Lalo Solorzano

Guest(s):
Ashley Arnold - LinkedIn

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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💬 Connect with us:

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Host: Cindy Allen
Guest(s): N/A
Published: October 23, 2026
Length: ~18 min
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
What happens when customs practices that once escaped close scrutiny become the focus of enforcement? In this episode of Simply Trade—Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen turns to Taylor Swift’s “Karma” to explore a message importers, customs brokers, and freight forwarders cannot afford to overlook: compliance risk has a history.

Cindy connects the week’s tariff, court, and agency developments with a practical concern for trade teams—being ready to support their claims when questions arise, not just when the paperwork is normally finalized. She describes reports of shipments being stopped at the northern and southern borders for detailed valuation, origin, and trade agreement documentation, putting added pressure on release processes and after-hours coordination.

The discussion also considers what an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) settlement involving a freight forwarder can teach the industry about screening controls, and why reviewing today’s transactions is only part of the job. Historical import patterns, undervaluation, misclassification, and transshipment all feature in Cindy’s assessment of a more demanding enforcement environment.

This episode challenges listeners to look beyond routine filings and ask a bigger question: can your organization explain and support its trade decisions—past and present—when scrutiny arrives?

This Week in Trade
• White House developments: Cindy discusses possible Section 232 tariffs on wind turbines and parts, along with the administration’s approach to Russian oil and gas imports and the objections surrounding it.

• Tariff refund oversight: Cindy reviews lawmakers’ request for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) examination of IEEPA duty refunds, including refund accuracy, recipients, and whether money reached downstream consumers.

• Court challenges and refund access: The episode covers the Section 301 forced-labor case, the Section 338 tariff challenge involving Canada, and expanded CAPE 3 eligibility for additional Court of International Trade filings.

• Implementation and screening: Cindy discusses the entry type 13 deadline extension for mail importations and an OFAC settlement involving a freight forwarder’s sanctions-screening controls.

Main Topic / Discussion
Cindy’s central theme is customs karma: practices that may previously have been tolerated or overlooked are drawing closer attention in what she describes as a “zero trust” enforcement environment.

She explains why detailed documentation requests at the point of release can disrupt shipments when supporting records are normally assembled or shared later. Her emphasis is on documentation readiness, coordination with customs brokers, and understanding risks in both current transactions and historical import activity.

The discussion connects sanctions screening, undervaluation, misclassification, and transshipment to that broader enforcement focus. Cindy encourages listeners to review their policies and procedures, share examples of disruptive border holds through trade associations, and participate in enforcement-related rulemaking.

Key Takeaways
• Be ready to support your entry claims. Prepare accessible documentation for valuation, country of origin, free trade agreement qualification, and antidumping duty disclaimers.

• Review the past alongside the present. Cindy stresses that historical import patterns—not just current shipments—can become part of enforcement scrutiny.

• Look beyond a completed screening check. Review the policies, procedures, and screening frequency behind your technology.

• Coordinate before a shipment is stopped. Discuss document access and potential release-time questions with your customs broker, and share examples of problematic border holds through relevant trade associations.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center

• Cindy Allen on LinkedIn

• “Karma” by Taylor Swift — the inspiration for this episode’s trade theme.

• Trade Force Multiplier — Cindy’s company, mentioned as a resource for reviewing trade compliance risks.

Credits
Host:
Cindy Allen

Guest(s):
N/A

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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

🎧 Listen on:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• YouTube

💬 Connect with us:

• Simply Trade

• Global Training Center

• 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?
SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com

Host: Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles
Guest(s): Kyle Grobler
Published: October 22, 2026
Length: ~ 37 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center

Summary
Being good at trade compliance and being known for that expertise are not the same thing. In this episode of Simply Trade, Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles welcome Kyle Grobler for a candid conversation about personal branding, professional visibility, and showing up—even when posting feels uncomfortable.

Kyle explains why he committed to sharing his experience on LinkedIn for six months, with one simple goal: help one other person. What followed included new connections, speaking opportunities, and offers for jobs he never applied for. But this is not a conversation about chasing viral posts. It is about making your knowledge useful to others and building relationships through consistent contribution.

The discussion moves from practical profile improvements and meaningful engagement to the human side of professional credibility: admitting mistakes, telling relatable stories, and letting people see the person behind the job title. Lalo shares his own discomfort with being visible, while Andy connects the conversation to sincere leadership and learning from frontline employees.

For trade, customs, and logistics professionals wondering whether they have anything worth sharing, this episode offers a different starting point: your everyday experience may be exactly what someone else needs. You do not have to wait until you feel ready—or until the new year—to begin.

Main Topic / Discussion
Kyle’s central message is that a personal brand grows through contribution, not just self-promotion. He discusses building a LinkedIn profile that explains the problems you solve, sharing lessons from your work, and engaging thoughtfully with other people’s content.

The conversation also goes beyond social media. Lalo and Andy explore how professional visibility connects to workplace credibility, communicating trade’s value, and building relationships with colleagues at every level. From acknowledging mistakes to listening to frontline employees, the emphasis stays on consistency, sincerity, and community—not perfection or popularity.

Key Takeaways
• Make your expertise easy to understand. Use your LinkedIn photo, banner, headline, and About section to communicate who you help, the problems you solve, and what you have accomplished.

• Share the lesson, not just the success. Experiences, mistakes, and what you learned along the way can offer another trade professional a useful starting point.

• Contribute more than you ask for. Thoughtful comments, meaningful responses, and genuine conversations build relationships beyond your own posts.

• Choose consistency over perfection. Keep showing up even when engagement is modest. Kyle’s focus is helping someone—not measuring every post against viral numbers.

Resources & Mentions
• Global Training Center
• Connect with Kyle Grobler on LinkedIn

Credits
Host:
Lalo Solorzano
Andy Shiles

Guest(s):
Kyle Grobler - LinkedIn

Producer:
Lalo Solorzano

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

🎧 Listen on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

💬 Connect with us:

• Simply Trade
• Global Training Center
• 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?
SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com