Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shales
Guest: Josh Rodman, Attorney at Schulz Trade Law
Published: October 29, 2025
Presented by: Global Training Center
Length: 28 minutes
Episode Summary
In this Halloween Week special, the Simply Trade hosts dig into real-life trade horror stories that will make any exporter’s blood run cold.
Attorney Josh Rodman from Schulz Trade Law joins Lalo and Andy to share two spine-chilling case studies where export compliance went sideways — despite good intentions. From ballistic helmets misclassified under the wrong ECCN to shipments to Russia caught in the tangled web of ever-changing export controls, this episode proves that in trade, even honest mistakes can summon costly consequences.
Josh explains how voluntary self-disclosures (VSDs) can save a company from financial nightmares and why staying current with export regulations is critical to avoid getting haunted by unexpected investigations or penalties.
This episode blends legal insight with cautionary tales — perfect for your Halloween listening lineup!
Key Topics
Real-world export control “horror stories”
Misclassification of military equipment under ECCNs
Voluntary Self-Disclosures (VSDs) and how they mitigate penalties
OFAC subpoenas and overlapping U.S. government investigations
Russian sanctions, HTS code–based restrictions, and transshipment red flags
How exporters can protect themselves through due diligence and expert review
Resources & Mentions
🎧 Credits
Hosts:
Guests:
Josh Rodman - Schulz Trade Law
Producer:
Lalo Solorzano
Stay up to date with Simply Trade — the podcast that makes international trade easy to understand (and sometimes spooky 👻).
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