Angela Aaron on Trade Compliance, Tariff Volatility, and the Power of Visibility
In a trade environment that’s moving faster than most organizations can keep up with, one theme keeps surfacing in every conversation: the teams navigating complexity most effectively are the ones who can see their data clearly. Our VP of Compliance Angela Aaron sat down with Jeff Rittener, former Chief Trade Officer at Intel and host of Rittener Reflections, for an in-depth conversation on exactly that.
They cover a range of topics that are directly relevant to anyone working in trade compliance, customs, or supply chain leadership today:
The pressure on trade teams right now
Tariff volatility, shifting enforcement priorities, and growing executive scrutiny have placed trade compliance teams in a spotlight they haven’t occupied before. Angela shares what that shift looks like from the inside, and what teams actually need to show up effectively.
Why data fragmentation is still the core problem
Even the most established organizations struggle with dispersed, inconsistent trade records. Angela explains how this shows up in day-to-day operations and what it costs when the answers to straightforward questions take days to find.
How CBP is using AI, and why importers should pay attention
Customs enforcement is increasingly pattern-driven. Angela breaks down how the same data that CBP uses to identify risk can be used by compliance teams to find it first, and correct it on their own terms.
Tariff refund opportunities hiding in plain sight
From IEEPA to Section 232, there are significant refund opportunities available to importers right now. The challenge is knowing where to look. Angela walks through what that analysis requires and shares a real example of an importer recovering millions in Section 232 refunds by having full visibility into their entry history.
AI, judgment, and the human in the loop
Angela offers a clear-eyed perspective on what AI actually does, and doesn’t do, in trade compliance. The tools support efficiency and surface patterns. But the judgment, the accountability, and the responsibility stay with the licensed professional.
It’s a conversation worth your time, whether you’re leading a trade compliance team, advising one, or trying to build the data foundation to support one.
