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You’re Looking at Global Trade the Wrong Way
Episode 103
Monday, 2 March, 2026
Contact Ian at ian.berman@qad.com and Joshua at joshua.guy@qad.com for further conversationGlobal trade does not have a compliance problem. It has an execution gap. The classifications exist. The brokers are in place. The duties are being paid. Yet too often, trade is treated as documentation instead of strategy. In this episode, Jan Griffiths and Tom Roberts sit down with Ian Berman, Global Trade and Transportation expert, and Joshua Guy, Foreign Trade Zone specialist, to challenge that mindset and introduce a new one.Ian and Joshua make the case that tariffs are no longer a temporary disruption. They are a structural operating condition. With layered duties, stacked exposure, and policy volatility, organizations cannot afford to treat trade compliance as a cost center. The companies that will win are the ones that shift from a system of record to a system of action. That means modeling exposure before it hits. Scenario planning under uncertainty. Using infrastructure like FTZs deliberately. And building systems that react at the speed policy changes.The honesty in this conversation sets the tone. Jan openly admits she once treated trade compliance as something to “just like keep me clean. Don’t get me into trouble.” Ian confirms how common that mindset is, saying, “They look at that as just a cost center. Honestly, Jan…” That old-world thinking no longer works.Joshua explains why the stakes have changed: “This is way too complicated of an environment that is changing daily, and so you have to be dependent on systems for this. You cannot be dependent on the old way of how things work.” In a world where executive orders drop on Friday and implementation happens Tuesday, modeling tools and automation are no longer optional. They are survival mechanisms.This episode is a reminder that global trade is not back-office reporting. It is strategic infrastructure. Leaders who treat it as such gain flexibility, cash flow timing advantages, and margin recovery. Those who do not will absorb cost and call it unavoidable.Themes Discussed in This EpisodeWhy treating trade compliance as a cost center is a strategic mistakeThe shift from system of record to system of action in global tradeTariffs as a structural operating condition, not a temporary disruptionModeling exposure before policy changes hitThe critical role of data accuracy under refund and audit scrutinyBuilding scenario capability to react at the speed of volatilityForeign Trade Zones as strategic infrastructure, not paperworkTurning landed cost management into a competitive advantageFeatured GuestName: Ian BermanTitle: Global Trade and Transportation ExpertAbout: Ian is the Manager of Business Consulting with QAD Supply Chain. Ian has been with QAD for 11 years and has 20 years of experience in global trade and transportation management. He holds a Masters Degree in Supply Chain Management as well as an ASCM CLTD Certification.Connect: LinkedInName: Joshua GuyTitle: Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) SpecialistAbout: For more than 25 years, Joshua has worked at the intersection of engineering, product leadership, and global trade, helping organizations bring structure and clarity to complex supply chains. Today, he leads strategy for Foreign-Trade Zone solutions that enable multinational importers to manage tariff exposure, reduce compliance risk, and strengthen financial performance. He also led the development of QAD FTZ, an industry-leading Inventory Control and Recordkeeping System that supports manufacturers, distributors, and 3PLs as they move from reactive compliance to proactive, resilient trade strategy in a volatile global environment.Connect: LinkedInAbout Your HostsJan GriffithsJan is the host and producer of the Auto Supply Chain Champions Podcast and The Automotive Leaders Podcast. A former automotive manufacturing and supply chain executive, Jan is recognized as a Champion for Culture Change in the automotive industry. She brings direct, grounded conversations to leaders navigating execution, disruption, and transformation across the global automotive ecosystem.Tom Roberts (Co-host)Tom is Co-host of the Auto Supply Chain Champions Podcast and Vice President of Strategic Industry Development at QAD. He works closely with automotive and industrial manufacturers to close the gap between insight and execution, helping leaders move from visibility to systems of action that drive real operational outcomes.Episode Highlights[01:38] Falling on the Sword: Jan opens with honesty, acknowledging that she once viewed trade compliance as protection, not potential. It was about staying out of trouble, not driving advantage. That mindset, she admits, is exactly what leaders must now challenge.[03:58] Cost Center Thinking: Ian names the pattern many organizations fall into. Trade teams are treated as overhead, brought in after decisions are made, measured by cost instead of contribution. In today’s environment, that thinking leaves value on the table.[10:51] The New Reality: Joshua reframes the moment with clarity. Uncertainty is not a phase. It is the operating model. Leaders who accept that shift can move from reacting to preparing.[17:30] Start with a State of the Union: Before making bold moves, Ian calls for alignment. Understand what you buy, where it comes from, what you pay, and what systems support it. Clarity is the foundation for action.[10:33] Volatility Isn’t Going Away: Ian delivers the hard truth. Today’s structure will change again. Waiting for stability is not a strategy. Building agility is.[12:29] Systems Over Spreadsheets: Joshua draws the line between the old world and the new. Manual tracking cannot keep pace with stacking tariffs and shifting rules. Systems of action are no longer optional. They are essential.[19:37] FTZ as a Lever: Joshua shifts the lens from compliance to opportunity. Foreign Trade Zones are not paperwork exercises. Used well, they become a financial lever that improves cash flow and protects margin.[22:07] Leadership Urgency: Tom closes with resolve. When double-digit cost increases appear, leaders cannot hesitate. They must understand the full landed cost, explore every lever, and act decisively.Top Quotes[04:49] Ian: “They look at that as just a cost center. Honestly, Jan, and again, you fell on the sword and you're not alone.”[10:51] Joshua: “I think the only certainty is uncertainty in these times, right?”[12:29] Joshua: “You have to be dependent on systems for this. You cannot be dependent on the old way of how things work.”[22:07] Tom: “If I'm facing 10% additional cost, or 15 or 40, or whatever it is. I am gonna figure this out.”Follow the Auto Supply Chain Champions Podcast for real conversations with leaders who are making hard choices, focusing their bets, and leading with intent.🎧 Follow the podcast: https://autosupplychainprophets.com/🔗 Learn more about QAD Redzone: https://www.qad.com/
