Torres Talks Trade

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Trade lawyers and subject matter expert guests discuss timely topics on trade and national security in an informal and informative setting. Join us for lively commentary as we dissect complex areas of the law in a podcast that attempts to bring trade to the people, or as we say “trade in plain English.” The Torres Talks Trade Podcast covers risks in trade and national security with an emphasis on emerging and controlled technologies, geopolitics, defense, cyber security, and supply chain.

Torres Trade Law, PLLC


    • Jun 1, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 25 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Torres Talks Trade

    Bringing New Technologies to the Market

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 26:12


    In this week's episode, host Donald Pearce is joined by Dan Cohen, Founder and CEO of Flite Material Sciences, to discuss the discovery of innovative technologies, the field of technology transfer, and how startups should be monitoring and implementing export controls and other regulatory compliance in the early stages of their technology business ventures.

    De-Dollarization and the Political Risks Associated with U.S. Financial Sanctions

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 43:04


    In this week's episode, host Olga Torres is joined by Author and Associate Professor of Political Science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, Daniel McDowell, to discuss the concept of “de-dollarization” and its correlation to international relations and U.S. imposed sanctions.

    China in Context

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 45:58


    In this week's episode, host Olga Torres is joined by Matt Bell, Senior Managing Director and Leader of Export Controls, Sanctions, and Trade at FTI Consulting, to discuss China's historic rise and trajectory, recommendations for de-risking as a U.S. or Chinese company and increased geopolitical risks flowing down to industry.  

    Managing China Risk Amidst U.S. China Strategic Competition 

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 49:35


    In this week's episode, host Olga Torres is joined by Isaac Stone Fish, Founder and CEO of Strategy Risks an advisory firm, to discuss China's strategy and its implications for U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives with respect to China's growing influence both in the United States and abroad.

    A Military Perspective on Current U.S. National Security and Geopolitical Challenges

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 59:46


    In this week's episode, host Olga Torres is joined by U.S. Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) Stephen Lanza to discuss the U.S. military state of affairs and new geopolitical challenges facing the U.S., specifically, Russia and China.

    Defense Trade Down Under

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 34:01


    In this week's episode, host Donald Pearce is joined by David Heasley, the Founder and Principal Solicitor of Australian law firm Heasley Lawyers, to discuss AUKUS, a deal announced in September 2021 between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to work on multilateral projects, including the nuclear submarine force.

    Russia Enforcement and the involvement of DOJ's Task Force KleptoCapture

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 24:37


    In this week's episode, host Camille Edwards is joined by Donald Pearce, a former special agent at OEE and consultant with Torres Trade Advisory, to discuss current developments in the enforcement of trade controls against Russia, including the DOJ Task Force KleptoCapture and its recent involvement in two cases of enforcement.

    The Role of Ethics and Compliance Programs in International Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 38:48


    In this week's episode, host Derrick Kyle is joined by Eric Hinton, the founding Director of the Robert B. Rowling Center for Business Law and Leadership at SMU Dedman School of Law, and a former Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, to discuss the importance of ethics and compliance for an international business, requirements and best practices for compliance programs, and international trade risk areas that businesses should monitor.

    A Whistleblower's Nightmare: The Uncovering of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad Scandal

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 52:04


    In this week's episode, we discuss the unique high-profile whistleblower case involving the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, describing corruption, bribery, and money laundering conspiracy involving PetroSaudi, the former Malaysian Prime Minister, businessman Jho Low, well-established banks, and the courageous man who blew the whistle to uncover the scheme. Host Olga Torres is joined by Xavier Justo, the famous whistleblower and former Director of International Business Development for PetroSaudi International. *To support and learn more about this story, you can purchase the book written by Xavier Justo “Rendezvous with Injustice” on Amazon.

    The New Trend of Suing OFAC

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023 45:26


    This week's episode covers the “new trend” of suing and challenging OFAC decisions and discusses some recent lawsuits against OFAC. Host Olga Torres is joined by Erich Ferrari, Founder and Principal Attorney of Ferrari & Associates, a law firm that provides expert advice on U.S. economic and trade sanctions.

    Podcast Episode 15 on Customs Summons, Fraud Investigations, & Recommendations 

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 35:50


    In the second of a two-part series on federal investigations within the Department of Homeland Security, host Derrick Kyle continues his discussion with former DHS Deputy Chief Counsel Rob Dunikoski. Together, they discuss what a custom summons is, custom fraud investigations, and recommendations for companies facing these types of investigations. This is the summer season finale episode of the Torres Talks Trade podcast. Stay tuned because we will be back in November for our Fall/Winter Season. For any podcast recommendations or to participate as a guest, email us at operations@torrestradelaw.com.

    Episode 14- Federal Investigations within the Department of Homeland Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 35:05


    In the aftermath of 9/11, the U.S. Government created the Department of Homeland Security to carry out a broad range of national security functions. Today, DHS is widely known for overseeing both Immigrations and Customs operations. This week, nearly 21 years after that fateful day, host Derrick Kyle sits down with former DHS Deputy Chief Counsel Rob Dunikoski, in the first of a two-part series, to discuss Rob's experience overseeing federal investigations and bringing criminal cases to the U.S. Attorney's office.

    Episode 13- When Government Agencies Come Knocking

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 45:22


    In the second of a two-part series regarding the BIS Office of Export Enforcement, host Olga Torres sits down with former BIS Special Agents Don Pearce and Jim Fuller to discuss what to do when government enforcement agencies come knocking, and how to interact with the government if there's a VSD or an ongoing investigation

    Episode 12- ZTE & BIS Enforcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 39:02


    In this week's episode, the first of a two-part series, host Olga Torres sits down with Jim Fuller, former special agent, with the Office of Export Enforcement (“OEE”) within the Bureau of Industry and Security, and Don Pearce, former special agent at OEE and consultant with Torres Trade Advisory. Together, they discuss the ongoing ZTE case, recent enforcement trends, and what to expect when OEE agents come knocking at your door. Be sure to tune in next week, for Part 2, where Jim & Don will discuss what to do when government agencies come knocking.

    Episode 11- Sanctions and Export Enforcement Cases by DOJ

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 22:45


    In this week's episode, host Olga Torres is joined by David Laufman, former Chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Controls Section, “CES,” at the Department of Justice to discuss high-profile sanctions and export enforcement cases, DOJ voluntary self-disclosures, and C-suite compliance certifications announced by DOJ. At DOJ, David played a key role in the cases against ZTE and Huawei, and is uniquely positioned to comment on current DOJ efforts to promote corporate compliance. This is part 2 of a two-part series (episodes 10 and 11) with David Laufman where we discussed all things FARA.

    Episode 10- the Foreign Agents Registration Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 33:34


    The Foreign Agents Registration Act, FARA, has been making headlines recently, as Washington seeks to crack down on foreign influence in the United States. But the law has a surprising history, and could be in for some major updates in the coming months. In the first of a two-part series, Host Olga Torres is joined by David Laufman, former Chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Controls Section at the Department of Justice to discuss all things FARA. Be sure to tune in next week, for Part 2, where David will discuss high-profile sanctions and export enforcement cases, DOJ voluntary self-disclosures, and C-suite compliance certifications recently announced by DOJ.

    united states washington chief doj foreign agents registration act
    Episode 9- U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Business Identifier program

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 33:15


    In this week's episode, Host Donna Wedgeworth speaks with Anthony Saranchak, former U.S. Customs Assistant Field Director in Regulatory Audit, to discuss identity theft in U.S. importing and global supply chains and how U.S. Customs and Border Protection is taking a step toward improving supply chain data reliability with the proposed Global Business Identifier program. Find out what this means for businesses and supply chains, and how you can prepare your enterprise as Customs expands the program to the wider industry.

    Episode 8- Worker-Centered Trade 

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 39:08


    The debate between free trade and protectionism is alive and well, and perhaps fiercer than ever, in the United States and abroad. In this week's episode, host Olga Torres sits down with Steve Charnovitz, professor at the George Washington Law School, to discuss the importance of a worker-centered trade policy, the WTO, the Treasury's call for “friendshoring” of supply chains, and how the U.S. can promote workers' rights at home and around the world.

    Episode 7- The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 36:57


    This week's episode discusses the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States "CFIUS," the U.S. interagency body that reviews foreign investment for national security purposes. Host Olga Torres is joined by Albert Schulz, founder of Kaerus Consulting LLC, which provides a variety CFIUS Mitigation services to clients, to look at the ins and out CFIUS mitigation, and how to ensure international mergers and acquisitions in critical areas proceed smoothly while minimizing risk to national security.

    Episode 6- Forced Labor in Supply Chains 

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2022 38:18


    This week's episode looks at the U.S. government's enforcement of laws that combat forced labor in supply chains, including the newly passed Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, as well as the impact of forced labor compliance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. How can companies ensure their supply chains are compliant and protect against the risk of having their goods seized or detained? Find out as host Olga Torres is joined by Ana Hinojosa, a former Executive Director at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a former Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Office of International Affairs at CBP, and a fromer Director of Compliance and Facilitation for the World Customs Organization, now President of ABH Global Trade Consulting, and Kelli Thompson, a former Supervisory Import Specialist at CBP and now the CEO of Integrity International Trade Consulting.

    Episode 5- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Audits

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 35:46


    This podcast covers the important topic of U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") audits, including how CBP selects companies for audits and how importers should prepare for an audit. Anthony “Tony” Saranchak, Senior Customs Adviser at Torres Trade Advisory, provides insights from his vast experience working as an auditor at CBP.

    Episode 4- USMCA and the trade relationship between the U.S.A, Mexico, & China.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 39:26


    This week's episode looks at the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and trade relations between the United States, Mexico, and China. Emilio Arteaga, a partner at Mexican trade law firm Vazquez Tercero & Zepeda based out of Mexico City joins host Olga Torres to provide his unique perspective on current trade and policy issues affecting both sides of the border as well as both sides of the Pacific Ocean.

    Episode 3- Cross-Border Trade Disruptions between Texas and Mexico

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 30:02


    This week's episode covers the latest issues in cross-border trade between Texas and Mexico. Texas-based Customs Broker Adrian Gonzalez of Global Alliance Solutions helps break down the current state of supply chain disruptions, Title 42, the Summit of the Americas, and the future of international commerce between the United States and Mexico.

    Episode 2- Cybersecurity, the Department of Defense, and the Private Sector/Government Contracting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2022 40:43


    This episode discusses the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), which lays out the cybersecurity standards required of government contractors. Guest Dave Grey, Cybersecurity Consultant with Torres Trade Advisory, joins Olga Torres to discuss what the CMMC requires, who it covers, and what all businesses can do to keep their and their customers' data safe.

    Episode 1- Russia Sanctions with Former Commerce Enforcement Agent

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2022 32:17


    This podcast covers Russia sanctions and a former U.S. Government Special Agent's personal experience while living in Russia and serving as an attaché for the U.S. Department of Commerce. Listen in for a brief discussion regarding avoidance of risks for businesses with operations in the region. Guest: Don Pearce – Senior Trade Advisor and Former Office of Export Enforcement Agent

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