#8 - Words Have Power and Baltimore Bridge Incident

Hi there,

Thank you for being part of the Virk Trade Compliance weekly newsletter! If you like the series, don’t forget to recommend and share it with others! If you have any feedback (good or bad), feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].

I’d love to hear from you!

Training Updates

I have more training lined up - these training topics will be familiar, but I have positioned them from an Importer’s point of view to give you the practicality of how to look at things while consulting for something or doing your job. The next one to watch our for is the CTPAT Training and Audits.

I can’t wait to share it with you!

Global Trade Compliance Updates

• By now we have all heard of the US Baltimore Bridge incident - very unfortunate and tragic for the individuals and families that were involved. Beyond this, this will be another event affecting the supply chain and vehicle industry. The ripples will probably be felt for the rest of the year.

• Possible increased EU tariffs on Russian and Belarus grains.

• India allows edible oil imports into country at lower rate until 2025.

• Ford agrees to pay $365M to settle import tax evasion scheme on imports.

• Nigeria suspends 25% penalty on improperly imported vehicles.

• US reduced duties on tires from Thailand.

• Russia-Iran agree on 0% customs duty.

Compliance Tips

• Make a procedure out of everything you do. Do it on the go - if you wait until “when I have time”, you will never have time. This will help you more than you know.

• Say “no” internally when you know there’s a compliance risk. Lay out the facts, make sure they understand the risk and then let the business decide. Lay out your risk in emails to have written proof.

• Audits - the sooner the better. Start on these. Keep asking for resources to make this happen - words have power.

Career Advise

Interview Tips:

• Tell your career like a story.

• Don’t be afraid to take credit for your work.

• If you can put numbers to any work you do - put down those numbers (reducing lead times, reduce process times, savings amounts, duty reduction, FTA claim percent, etc.).

• Say what you want to and control the narrative - the other person might have specific questions, but do tell your story - your story will likely answer all their questions if you take your time and tell it your way.

• Take on interviews even when you’re not looking for a new job - this is call practice. When and if you do need a job - you’ll be ready.

Join 1000s of Students who have already taken my Trade Compliance courses:

If you are studying for the U.S. Customs Broker Exam (or know of someone else that is):

This Student Portal has all the goodies to help you pass: https://virktradecompliance.circle.so/c/lectures/

This Study Guide will help the newbies a ton: https://virktradecompliance.com/product/study-guide-us-customs-broker-exam/

I also have the CBLE Exam lecture as individual to buy: https://virktradecompliance.com/customs-broker-exam/

See you next week!

Nadeem

p.s. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter on growing your mindset and productivity - lots of exciting stuff coming to my YouTube starting next week. https://mindsetxproductivityxtraining.beehiiv.com/subscribe