Torres Talks Trade

In this episode, host Derrick Kyle speaks with Dr. Brett Tipple, President and Chief Scientist of FloraTrace, about the science behind isotopic testing and how products carry unique geographical fingerprints that can help verify their true origin. They discuss how this technology supports importers and global brands in strengthening compliance and managing supply chain risk amid increasing regulat...

In this follow up episode, host Derrick Kyle continues his discussion with Blake Price, Executive Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, to examine the most significant challenges facing shrimpers in the Gulf and South Atlantic regions, from rising operational costs to sustained pressure from foreign imports. Blake assesses whether U.S. tariffs on imported shrimp have delivered meaningful relie...

In this episode, host Derrick Kyle is joined by Blake Price, Executive Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, for an in-depth discussion on the state of the U.S. shrimp industry. Blake provides an overview of the Alliance’s mission and outlines how the domestic industry has evolved over the past several decades in response to increasing foreign competition and shifting global market dynamics. T...

In this follow-up episode, host Olga Torres continues her conversation about Department of Justice enforcement with Alamdar Hamdani, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, one of the largest U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Department of Justice. Together, they examine DOJ’s updated voluntary self-disclosure policies and how the Department assesses cooperation, remediation...

In this episode, host Olga Torres is joined by Alamdar Hamdani, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, one of the largest U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Department of Justice. Together, they examine how the DOJ’s national security and trade enforcement mission has evolved in recent years, with a heightened focus on tariffs, supply chains, export controls, and sanctions e...

In this follow-up episode, host Olga Torres continues her deep dive into CBP's enforcement priorities, this time exploring the intersection of customs compliance and the False Claims Act. Joined again by Andrew Miller, they examine emerging trends in FCA enforcement related to trade, including transshipment schemes and misclassified or undervalued imports. They also highlight the growing inter...

In this episode, host Olga Torres is joined by Andrew Miller, an attorney with Barron & Budd in Washington D.C. whose practice focuses on False Claims Act litigation and representing whistleblowers in various areas of law including customs fraud cases. Together, they explore how CBP’s ramped-up administrative enforcement and the DOJ’s increasing reliance on the False Claims Act and its whistle...

In this follow-up episode, host Olga Torres continues her deep dive into the Trump 2.0 Administration this time turning to the increasingly critical role of export controls and economic sanctions. She is again joined by Anthony Saranchak, former CBP auditor with extensive experience in customs audits and internal controls, and Donald Pearce, retired BIS special agent recognized for his leadership...

In this episode, host Olga Torres explores the Trump 2.0 Administration’s assertive trade and national security agenda, focusing on intensified enforcement efforts, expanded interagency coordination, and strengthened federal oversight. She is joined by Anthony Saranchak, former CBP auditor with extensive experience in customs audits and internal controls, and Donald Pearce, retired BIS special age...

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ri...

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 b...

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.

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 To...

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, t...

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

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 a...

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 i...

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 Secti...