Host: Cindy Allen
Show: Simply Trade – Cindy’s Version
Published: February 13, 2026
Length: ~15 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center
State of Grace: Tariffs, First Sale Under Fire, and a Glimmer of Stability
In this episode of Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen, CEO of TradeForce Multiplier, walks through another busy week in global trade and ties it to Taylor Swift’s “State of Grace”—focusing on the idea that, despite the shock of recent policy shifts, this is still a “worthwhile fight” for trade professionals. From new trade deals to challenges against tariff policy and first sale threats, Cindy explains what’s changing and where there are signs of hope.
New trade deals and tariff shifts
A U.S.–Taiwan deal capping total tariffs at 15% (either limiting MFN above 15% or applying 15% where MFN is lower).
Details emerging on agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina, and an India deal rolling back some reciprocal tariffs tied to India’s Russian oil purchases.
Where to find official text and specifics: USTR’s website.
Border infrastructure and electronic bonds
The administration’s threat to block the opening of the long‑planned Gordie Howe Bridge between Detroit and Ontario over funding/ownership disputes, and why Canada and Michigan intend to proceed regardless.
How this new public crossing will compete with the privately owned Ambassador Bridge for billions in daily cross‑border trade.
CBP’s move to mandate electronic surety bond filing for all bonds, formalizing what many brokers, importers, and sureties already do—and why Cindy strongly supports it.
Section 232 guidance softens (slightly)
New CBP guidance on 232 tariffs for steel, aluminum, and copper, dialing back earlier aggressive interpretations.
Trade groups have received written clarification allowing certain labor/overhead costs to be prorated into steel/aluminum values instead of fully loaded, even as petitioners continue to argue that none of those costs should be included.
Why importers should review the latest guidance carefully, track affected entries, and monitor the ongoing Court of International Trade challenge.
USMCA and IEPA signals from Capitol Hill
Senate Finance Committee signaling support for extending USMCA, seeking stability before any renegotiation, while the administration is rumored to prefer separate bilateral deals with Canada and Mexico.
The House vote to end IEPA duties on Canada for certain non‑USMCA goods—a positive step toward predictability, though the bill still must clear the Senate and avoid a presidential veto.
First sale under threat
Introduction of a bill to eliminate first sale, driven by some of the same groups that pushed to curtail de minimis and oppose duty‑reducing mechanisms generally.
Why this is significant: many large importers rely on first sale, provide extensive upstream data to CBP, and enable deeper supply‑chain visibility and risk management.
Trade associations have already begun weighing in to defend first sale; Cindy flags this as a fight to watch closely.
EU deal conditions and a big auto bill
The EU moving its U.S. tariff deal through lawmakers but adding elements like sunset deadlines and “security triggers” that go beyond earlier negotiating language.
Ford announcing an expected 900 million dollar 232‑related tariff hit after previously anticipated automotive offsets were disallowed for several months—raising questions about how other automakers will fare and whether Ford might push back through protests or litigation.
Global trade up, U.S. trade down
Conference insights from Manifest: global trade volumes are rising overall, but trade into the U.S. is declining, as exporters pivot to other markets they perceive as less costly and less complex.
This trend aligns with a surge in trade deals worldwide that do not include the U.S.
Cindy connects the week’s developments to Taylor Swift’s “State of Grace,” highlighting the line: “I never saw you coming and I’ll never be the same. This is a state of grace, this is a worthwhile fight.” She uses this to frame:
How studies now confirm what many suspected—U.S. consumers have already paid roughly 1,000 dollars more due to tariffs, with an additional 1,300 dollars expected in the coming year.
How tariffs are hitting companies and rural communities: constrained exports for U.S. agriculture, rising small‑farm bankruptcies, and knock‑on impacts to local economies.
Research showing that about 90% of tariff costs are passed from suppliers to U.S. importers, then to consumers, and even to manufacturers who never import directly but rely on tariff‑burdened inputs.
Despite this, she sees reasons for cautious optimism:
Companies challenging IEPA and 232 in court.
Large players like Ford publicly quantifying tariff impacts.
Congress beginning to reassert its constitutional role over tariffs and question security‑based justifications used as broad economic tools.
Early, coordinated pushback against eliminating first sale—stronger than what was seen around de minimis.
For Cindy, these developments suggest the industry may be entering a state of grace—a moment where data, legal challenges, and coordinated advocacy start to rebalance the conversation and make the fight for smarter trade policy worth it.
Credits
Host: Cindy Allen
Producer: Annik Sobing
Presented by: Global Training Center
Sponsor: PAX AI
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