When Compliance Risk Reaches the Boardroom
Trade compliance can’t stay in the back office when the risks reach the boardroom. In this episode of Simply Trade, host Andy Shiles welcomes back Grant Sernick of Third Wave for a candid conversation about customs enforcement, increasingly complex entries, and the disconnect that can form between compliance teams and senior leadership.
The Finished Product Isn’t the Whole Story
Grant explains why importers need to rethink how they manage trade risk, starting with the limits of manual entry reviews. He and Andy dig into the challenges posed by Chapter 99 tariff provisions and make the case that knowing your finished product isn’t enough. Real risk visibility means understanding the materials, suppliers, and production processes behind it.
Getting Leadership to See the Exposure
The conversation turns toward executive decision-making, financial controls, and staffing. Andy challenges listeners to ask a direct question: where is your company actually vulnerable? Grant’s answer centers on communicating risk clearly to executives before a problem forces the conversation.
Verify First, Trust Second
Rather than assuming filings are correct, Grant walks through Third Wave’s approach to comparing expected entries against broker-filed data. The goal isn’t replacing human judgment. It’s using automated verification to flag discrepancies early, so compliance professionals can focus their expertise where it’s actually needed, whether that means catching duty overpayments or underpayments.
A Bigger Question Than Paperwork
For importers, trade professionals, and business leaders, this episode offers a practical starting point for a bigger question: does your company’s approach to trade compliance actually reflect the business risk you’re managing?
Want to Keep the Conversation Going?
Connect with Grant Sernick on LinkedIn to follow his trade commentary, or learn more about Third Wave’s entry-verification capability directly.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Want to strengthen the compliance fundamentals behind these conversations? Explore GTC’s course offerings on Import Compliance and International Logistics Trainings to build a program that can stand up to today’s enforcement environment.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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