Host: Annik Sobing
Guest: Joshua Beker
Published: February 6, 2026
Length: ~20 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center
ATCC 2026: Cookies, Customs Law, and Why Trade is Suddenly Sexy
Live from Day 3 of the Advanced Topics in Customs Compliance (ATCC) Conference in Houston, Annik sits down with trade lawyer Joshua Beker from Roberts & Kehagiaras LLP Law Firm (met thanks to their irresistible local cookies). Joshua shares how he accidentally fell into trade law before it was "cool," why kids are now chasing trade careers, and what brokers/importers need to fix right nowamid tariff chaos.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How Joshua stumbled into trade law during school and now gets constant "how do I become a trade lawyer?" messages from students
Why 2018's first 301 tariffs (2.5% → 25%) made everyone suddenly care about duties—and 2026's even wilder environment is drawing new talent
Common mistakes still killing companies: Chinese-labeled boxes from "Vietnam," missing factory photos, zero origin verification
The compliance "magnifying glass": origin, valuation, classification now mean 50% duty swings under USMCA if you get it wrong
Trust crisis aftermath: 2025's Truth Social posts that went nowhere (Canada 100%, Korea hikes, India rollback)—how to rebuild process confidence
Cross-functional training is non-negotiable: engineers, finance, procurement mustunderstand why compliance asks for BOMs/pictures/policies
ATCC value for brokers: quick expert guidance on 232 valuations (CBP guidance often thin), E&O help, license audits, client advising (auto/steel/furniture/medical)
Joshua's 2026 Predictions:
Retraction/scale-back of aggressive trade actions (already starting)
IEEPA case decision post-State of the Union
USMCA renegotiation: all 3 countries want updates—lobby now via public comments (it works—tariff shift rules already changed from past efforts)
Policies aren't static: build living procedures that adapt monthly, assign owners, train cross-functionally
ATCC Highlights (Houston, Feb 2026):
Joshua emphasizes ATCC's blend of C-suite policy + operational "how-to-file-today" sessions with lawyers/brokers/importers. Global networking (Canada/Brazil/Mexico/Adidas reps) creates crisis-call contacts. For Southern border brokers, it's essential intel to serve auto/steel/furniture/medical clients amid monthly rule shifts.
Key Takeaways:
Trade law went from invisible to hot overnight—leverage conferences like ATCC to upskill fast
Start fixing compliance with education: get lawyers in front of decision-makers, scare with penalties, build policies
Cross-train everyone—they don't need expertise, just enough to escalate red flags and support compliance asks
Lobbying works: USMCA tariff shift changes prove public comments shape outcomes—submit yours now
ATCC isn't optional for brokers/importers—it's where you translate big-picture chaos into industry-specific procedures
Resources & Mentions:
Roberts & Kehagiaras LLP: customs practice, broker E&O, audits, rulings
ATCC Conference: advanced customs compliance, Houston 2026
PaxAI & Global Training Center: Simply Trade Podcast Sponsors
Presented by: Global Training Center
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