From CBP to the Private Sector: Vinny Annunziato on Trade Innovation, AI, and What’s Next

Hosts:  Andy Shiles & Lalo Solorzano Guest: Vincent “Vinny” Annunziato – Former CBP Director, Trade Technology Leader, Founder of Digital Supply Chain Innovations (DSCI), SVP at Profit Trust LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentrobertannunziato/ Published : March 19, 2026 Length: ~35 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center 🧠 Episode Summary In this episode of Simply Trade, we sit down with Vincent “Vinny” Annunziato for his first appearance post-retirement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Vinny reflects on a remarkable career shaping some of the most impactful trade modernization efforts, including the Single Window initiative, and shares behind-the-scenes insights into how these systems were built, challenged, and ultimately delivered. Now on the private sector side, Vinny discusses his transition, his new work with Profit Trust, and how companies can uncover hidden opportunities for duty recovery and cost savings. The conversation also dives deep into AI in trade compliance, cutting through the hype to explain what actually works today—and what doesn’t. From large language models to human-assisted decision-making, Vinny brings a practical, no-nonsense perspective that trade professionals can immediately apply.   🔑 Key Learnings The real story behind the Single Window and how it transformed multi-agency trade data Why collaboration between government and industry changed the game in customs processing How innovation works inside government—and why not everything makes it to production The truth about AI in trade compliance (and why most companies are using it wrong) Why “Human-Assisted Technology (HAT)” may be the smarter way to think about AI The importance of data quality and business context before applying AI solutions How companies are using tools like duty recovery and audit analytics to improve their bottom line   💡 Key Takeaways AI is not a magic solution—it’s only as good as the data and business logic behind it Trade compliance decisions—especially classification—must remain human-led Innovation requires balancing technical vision with real-world business application The future of trade lies in connected, interoperable global data systems There are still significant untapped opportunities for companies to recover duties and reduce costs 🔗 Resources & Mentions Profit Trust (duty recovery & shipping optimization solutions) ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) Single Window Initiative ITDS (International Trade Data System) Lacey Act (referenced in system design discussion) 🎧 Credits Hosts: Lalo Solorzano – LinkedIn Andy Shiles – LinkedIn Guest: Vincent “Vinny” Annunziato – Former CBP Director, Trade Technology Leader, Founder of Digital Supply Chain Innovations (DSCI), SVP at Profit Trust LinkedIn Producer: Lalo Solorzano 📢 Subscribe & Follow New episodes every week. 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 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks!