Is Your Trade Compliance Program 2026 Ready?
As we wrap up Q4 2025, many companies are in mitigation mode. Revenue targets and sales metrics have contracted, and new projections made. But for trade compliance leaders, the sheer number of regulatory changes since 2024 has teams scrambling to establish processes that capture necessary data to share insights on how these changes will affect the business bottom line.
If you’re new to your company or there has been significant turnover in the trade compliance department, you know how difficult it can be to introduce meaningful change when you’re still trying to get your feet under you.
Taking the time to pause and evaluate how your needs, capabilities, and priorities have evolved or changed is one of the most important exercises you can do to inform your goals going into 2026.
Many small compliance teams are working with documentation and processes that was “enough” in 2024 but have not had the bandwidth to bring them up to date with how the business works in practice.
Ask yourself these 3 questions:
What would your compliance program look like in 2026 if there were no constraints (e.g., Money, Time, Skill, Etc.)?
What key takeaways did you uncover from mapping your ideal state compliance program?
Of these insights, which areas can you take action on with your existing staff and resources, and what areas do you need additional support and/or budget to action?
Assemble this information into a simple table that is easy to read and digest. Think executive summary. Next, include a column for ROI - this is where you’ll list the impact that this specific change will have on how your team is able to reduce risk and increase efficiency.
Having this analysis compiled and in a format that’s ready to share as you go into your next meeting with your manager will equip you with the tools you need to answer their questions and advocate for your team when the question comes up
“What do you and your team need to be successful in 2026?”
I’m Michelle, and I help small trade compliance teams at companies of all sizes make impactful changes that optimize their performance and effectiveness.
