Finding Millions in Your Pocket: The Strategic Power of Duty Drawback

Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles Guest: Simran Dalvi – Duty Drawback Specialist, CITTA Customs Brokers Published: October 2025 Presented by: Global Training Center 💡 Unlocking Hidden Cash in Trade Compliance In this episode, Andy and Lalo are joined by Simran Dalvi of CITTA Customs Brokers to demystify one of the most underutilized trade programs in the U.S. — Duty Drawback. As companies struggle to manage tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and unpredictable trade policy shifts, Simran explains how duty drawback can become a strategic financial tool rather than an afterthought. They discuss how importers can recover millions in duties by improving documentation, applying for drawback privileges, and aligning teams across compliance, logistics, and finance. 🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode 💰 What duty drawback is — and how it can uncover hidden revenue opportunities ⚙️ How “drawback privileges” accelerate payments and improve cash flow 📄 Why documentation and audit readiness are critical for claim success 📊 How automation and AI tools are streamlining the drawback process 🏢 What executives and CFOs should ask their teams to find out if they qualify 🔑 Key Takeaways Duty drawback is a privilege, not a right — accuracy and documentation are everything. Companies can recover up to five years’ worth of duties on eligible imports. Drawback privileges allow for faster refunds and simplified claim processing. CBP’s backlog and staff shortages mean proactive preparation is key. Many importers qualify for drawback without even realizing it — and could be sitting on “millions in their pocket.” 📌 Resources & Mentions CITTA Customs Brokers – Duty Drawback Specialists CITTA Blog: Understanding Drawback Privileges CBP – Duty Drawback Overview ACE Portal – U.S. Customs and Border Protection AAEI – American Association of Exporters and Importers Global Training Center 🎧 Credits Hosts: Lalo Solorzano Andy Shiles Guest: Simran Dalvi – Duty Drawback Specialist, CITTA Customs Brokers Producer: Lalo Solorzano 📢 Subscribe & Follow Presented by Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals. 👉 www.GlobalTrainingCenter.com Connect with us: Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn Global Training Center on LinkedIn YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Trade Geeks Community Would you like me to also draft the LinkedIn promo post for this episode? I can make it center around the quote “It’s like finding a $20 bill in your pocket — except it’s millions” from Simran.