Host: Cindy Allen
Show: Simply Trade – Cindy’s Version
Published: April 9, 2026
Length: ~16 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center

The Story of Us: Tariff Changes, CAPE Confusion, and the Trade Community Waiting for Answers

Cindy Allen returns with a wide-ranging trade update set to Taylor Swift’s “The Story of Us,” using the song’s theme of miscommunication to frame the current disconnect between CBP, the courts, and the trade community. From a new DHS funding update and fresh uncertainty around tariffs and valuation to the evolving CAPE refund process and the latest questions around customs business, this episode captures a moment where the trade world is working hard to keep up with fast-moving policy changes.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

DHS and trade funding
- DHS remains largely unfunded, although TSA funding has now passed and some CBP officers remain funded under prior legislation.
- Many trade-related staff are still working without pay, and the shutdown pressure has now stretched beyond a month.
Last sale and valuation debate
- Congress is still considering the last sale bill, which could eliminate last sale as a valuation method.
- Cindy explains that last sale has long been treated as part of the broader transaction value framework and is supported by court history, but Congress can still change the law if it chooses.
White House tariff threats
- The White House floated 50% duties on countries that sell weapons to Iran, though Cindy questions what legal authority could support that now that IEEPA has been ruled unlawful.
- For China, the government could potentially revise Section 301 tariffs, but for other countries, the implementation path is unclear.
Forced labor enforcement
- The Labor Department announced a new tool for assessing foreign forced labor practices, but details were sparse.
- Cindy notes that CBP already has a strong forced labor framework and suggests the Labor Department may be stepping into a larger detection/enforcement role.
WTO criticism from USTR
- U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer published an op-ed criticizing the World Trade Organization, signaling frustration with its current effectiveness and casting doubt on the U.S. role going forward.
- Cindy highlights this as another sign that global trade institutions may be under pressure to prove relevance.
232 updates now in effect
- The recent steel and aluminum 232 changes took effect on April 6.
- Cindy notes that the system seems to be running smoothly, with de minimis treatment for some shipments under 15%, reduced or removed tariff coverage for certain HDS annex items, and new component-level classifications that reduce ambiguity even if the tariff burden remains high.
- CBP also released guidance on April 3, which importers subject to 232 should review carefully.
USMCA remains strained
- USMCA negotiations continue, but Cindy says they are tense and may not conclude by the July 1 deadline.
- Despite frustration and mixed positions among the three governments, she notes the agreement still matters for North American production and U.S. manufacturing support.
Customs business ruling and trade tech
- A recent customs business ruling has created concern among AI and trade tech companies, especially around whether certain activities now require a licensed customs broker.
- Cindy explains that the issue muddies the water for brokers, tech providers, and importers alike and will likely require clarification from CBP.
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