Bonds Are Not Boring: Tariffs, Risk & Sureties with Colleen Clarke
Description
Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles
Guest: Colleen Clarke, Vice President, Roanoke Insurance Group
Published: October 1, 2025
Length: ~25 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center
📚 Why Bonds Matter More Than Ever
Think bonds are boring? Think again.
In this episode, Andy and Lalo welcome Colleen Clarke of Roanoke Insurance Group for a deep dive into how customs bonds and sureties are being reshaped by tariffs, trade policy, and financial risk.
From insufficiency reviews to billion-dollar bond capacity, Colleen explains how importers and brokers can better project their bond needs, protect cash flow, and manage rising risk exposure. You’ll also learn why collaboration with brokers, sureties, and trade associations is essential to navigating today’s dynamic environment.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How tariffs directly impact bond amounts and importer risk
- Why CBP insufficiency reviews have surged, and what that means for your bond
- How bonds protect company cash flow vs. upfront duty payments
- Tips for forecasting bond sufficiency and avoiding multiple increases
- How ATA Carnets and trade associations can be valuable tools in today’s environment
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Tariff hikes mean higher duty payments — and bigger bond requirements.
CBP issued 58 insufficiency notices in 2025 (vs. nearly 5,000 in 2024).
Importers should project forward and regularly review bonds, ideally quarterly.
Breaking out separate bonds (e.g., for divisions or anti-dumping products) can mitigate risk.
ATA Carnets remain a powerful tool for stimulating trade while protecting cash flow.
Sureties and brokers are critical partners in planning bond sufficiency.
📌 Resources & Mentions:
Roanoke Insurance Group – Tariff & Bond Resources
NCBFAA – National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America
AAEI – American Association of Exporters & Importers
🎧 Credits
Hosts:
Guest:
Colleen Clarke – Vice President, Roanoke Insurance Group | LinkedIn
Producer:
Lalo Solorzano
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Presented by: Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.
👉 www.GlobalTrainingCenter.com
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