The Trade Pros

10/09/2026

You discover a trade compliance mistake. Do you fix it going forward or speak up about what happened?

It’s an uncomfortable question, but an important one.

In our latest blog, “Speak First, Pay Less: The Case for Disclosing Trade Compliance Mistakes,” we explore how coming forward can help reduce penalties, why timing matters, and what businesses should consider before making a disclosure.

Disclosure doesn’t erase the mistake or guarantee a penalty-free outcome. Getting the facts straight, involving qualified counsel, and addressing the root cause all matter.

At The Trade Pros, we help businesses identify compliance gaps and understand what went wrong, so they can work with their counsel on what comes next.

Read the full article:
https://www.tradeprosconsulting.com/post/speak-first-pay-less-the-case-for-disclosing-trade-compliance-mistakes

10/07/2026

Your shipments have clear destinations, but does your team have a well-defined compliance process?

A recent DOJ memorandum highlights tariff evasion, import fraud, and forced labor as key enforcement priorities. While these updates focus heavily on imports, they present a vital opportunity for both importers and exporters to evaluate and strengthen their overall compliance strategies.

Consider these three essential questions to gauge your readiness:
📄 Can we back up the data in our documentation?
👥 Does everyone know who makes the call on a compliance risk?
🔎 If someone spots a discrepancy, do they know where to take it?

At The Trade Pros, we know you're balancing customers, deadlines, and rules that keep changing. Our job is to make trade compliance clear and manageable, so it supports your business instead of slowing it down.

Want a second set of eyes on your process? Let's talk.

Whether you import, export, or both, trade compliance should never be a guessing game.

09/23/2026

CBP Form 5106 just became a lot more important for importers.

As of September 18, 2026, CBP is taking enhanced enforcement action to verify the accuracy of Importer of Record information.

If the information on your Form 5106 is inaccurate or incomplete, CBP may immediately void your IOR number. A voided number can't be used to enter goods into the United States.

So what should importers be checking?

Your business name, EIN, physical address, email, phone number, and other information on file with CBP should be accurate, complete, and actually belong to the importer.

A customs broker may submit the information on your behalf, but it still needs to be accurate and current. Your broker's Power of Attorney must also be signed directly with you, not through a freight forwarder or other third party.

One more reason to keep your email current: that's where CBP sends the notice if your IOR number is voided.

If you haven't reviewed your Form 5106 information recently, now is a good time to take a look.

Swipe through for what changed and what importers should know.

09/19/2026

“Can you send me the regulation that says we’re required to have an export compliance program?”

That was a question we received from a client this week and it is a fair one.

While there is no single blanket EAR rule requiring every company to have a formal Export Compliance Program (ECP) in place, operating without one is not risk-free.

What is in the EAR: If a violation occurs, BIS may consider your company’s compliance efforts when evaluating enforcement and potential penalties. A practical ECP helps demonstrate that your business took meaningful steps to prevent problems before they happened.

Build the program before you need to explain why you did not have one.
The Trade Pros helps companies build right-sized export compliance programs that fit their operations.

Read more on our latest blog post: https://www.tradeprosconsulting.com/post/export-compliance-program

09/16/2026

Export compliance is not simply paperwork. It protects national security, safeguards your company, and helps prevent costly shipment delays, penalties, reputational damage, and potential criminal exposure.

At The Trade Pros, we help businesses establish a practical review process before export decisions are made, so compliance is built into operations rather than addressed after a problem occurs.

Confidence in your export decisions starts with a clear process. If you are not sure yours is airtight, let’s talk.

09/09/2026

Free Trade Agreements can hand you 5% to 25% back on product value or a penalty exposure if you claim benefits you haven't actually earned.

Rules of origin + documentation requirements: the savings are real, but they're not automatic.

Too many businesses either miss FTA benefits they qualify for or claim ones they can't support.

Are you leaving FTA savings on the table? Let's find out together.

09/04/2026

Customs enforcement is in a different place than it was two years ago. DOJ's Trade Fraud Task Force has recovered over $1 billion since 2025, the Perfectus settlement topped $549 million this spring, and Executive Order 14411 now puts brokers and forwarders under closer CBP scrutiny too.

This is exactly where we come in. At The Trade Pros, we support trade attorneys by reading the operational record behind the legal question: classification, valuation, country of origin, entry documentation, and where the breakdown actually occurred. Attorneys build the legal strategy. We give them the technical findings to build it on.

We built our practice for small and midsize importers and exporters, the companies facing the same enforcement risk as large manufacturers but without the internal bandwidth to manage it.

Thank you to Spotlight on Startups for this feature. 🙏

Stay updated with The Trade Pros News on the latest customs enforcement changes and significant settlements impacting trade.

09/03/2026

One misplaced digit in your HS code can be the difference between profit and loss.

Tariff classification isn’t just paperwork. It’s the number that determines what you owe, and getting it wrong can mean overpaid duties, lost margin, or penalties in an audit.

With over 5,000 headings and 99 chapters in the Harmonized System, “close enough” isn’t a strategy.

This is exactly the kind of detail we live in every day.

When was the last time your HS classifications were reviewed? If it’s been a while, it might be worth taking another look before Customs does it for you.

08/26/2026

Meet the experience behind The Trade Pros.

Every business starts somewhere, and The Trade Pros grew from a desire to make the world of trade compliance feel a little less complicated and a lot more approachable.

At the center of it all is Destinee “Dee” Broussard. Her experience in the industry has given her a deep understanding of the challenges businesses face, but it’s the relationships she’s built along the way that continue to shape how she approaches her work.

The Trade Pros is about meeting businesses where they are, understanding what they need, and helping them find practical ways forward.

We’re excited to introduce the person behind the business and share more of the story that brought The Trade Pros to life.

Learn more about Dee: https://www.tradeprosconsulting.com/about-dee

08/17/2026

Introducing The Trade Pros

Import and export compliance is rarely simple. Gaps in classification, recordkeeping, processes can create costly risk and uncertainty can make it difficult for teams to know where to begin.

That’s why The Trade Pros exists.

We help importers, exporters, attorneys, and compliance teams identify compliance gaps, reduce risk, and build stronger trade operations through practical, real world guidance.

Our support includes:
- Import and export documentation review
- Tariff and export control classification
- Compliance program development
- Custom training, workshops, and webinars
- Trade-compliance support for attorneys and legal matters

Compliance is the mission. We never fail it.

Follow our page for practical trade compliance insights, educational resources, and updates designed to help your organization operate with greater confidence.

https://www.tradeprosconsulting.com/