Tools of the Trade
Nicole A. Porpiglia, Managing Director, International Tax, Trade & Customs, KPMG LLP
Nicole A. Porpiglia grew up in Newburgh, in New York’s Hudson Valley. Today, she serves as a managing director in KPMG LLP’s tax practice, specializing in trade and customs, and is based in the firm’s U.S. headquarters located at Hudson Yards in New York City.
“I come from a close-knit Italian family that always placed a strong emphasis on hard work and relationships,” says Porpiglia. “A big part of my early life was competitive soccer. I played throughout childhood and traveled extensively for tournaments, which taught me the value of teamwork, discipline and perseverance.”
Indeed, many of the lessons Porpiglia learned then continue to influence how she approaches her career—whether collaborating with colleagues, mentoring younger professionals or helping clients navigate complex challenges. Porpiglia learned to balance the demands of a consulting career while earning an MBA from prestigious IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.
Early on, “I was fortunate to collaborate with organizations operating in the gaming industry on trade and customs matters,” she says. “I had the opportunity to collaborate with companies as they strengthened their trade compliance functions, navigated complex regulations and developed strategies to address cost considerations across their global operations.”
Add tariffs to that mix. The changing tariff environment has created significant challenges for companies across many industries, including the gaming industry. In her experience, recent tariff developments have been particularly impactful for some companies whose gaming machines and components historically entered the United States duty-free. Porpiglia has observed that recent tariff developments have had a significantly greater impact on U.S. operations than in prior years.
Many organizations have taken a closer look at their supply chains, including raw materials, suppliers, manufacturing locations, distribution networks and sourcing strategies, she adds. “They needed to understand how tariffs affected their overall cost structure and make informed decisions that balanced compliance, customer needs and business objectives.”
Organizations across the gaming supply chain continue to monitor developments, evaluate risks and adapt to changes in the trade landscape. Porpiglia spends “a considerable amount of time helping organizations evaluate what these developments may mean from a practical business perspective. I regularly collaborate with organizations across the gaming sector to provide timely information that may be relevant to their operations.”
As always, strong compliance programs may help organizations manage risk, reduce the likelihood of disruptions and support informed decision-making.
When it comes to the current trade policy environment, there’s no crystal ball, Porpiglia notes. Over the past several years, she’s seen significant changes across administrations, and the pace of change has accelerated recently. “While certain tariffs or trade measures may be modified over time, we’ve also seen tariffs imposed under previous administrations remain in place for many years, which demonstrates that trade policy changes can have a lasting impact on businesses.”
Beyond tariffs, she says, businesses are increasingly evaluating evolving regulations, geopolitical developments, supply chain resiliency concerns and compliance obligations. Trade and customs have become much more than compliance functions. They are increasingly important considerations in overall business strategy.
“My primary role is to help companies address trade and customs requirements while considering operational efficiency. Strong compliance programs can help organizations manage risk, reduce the likelihood of disruptions and support informed decision-making.”
While policies may change over time, “I believe businesses will continue to closely monitor trade developments and remain focused on managing risk, maintaining flexibility and making informed decisions in an ever-evolving global marketplace,” Porpiglia says. “As trade and customs continue to play an increasingly important role in business strategy, I absolutely see myself continuing to grow, contribute and build on that experience over the next five years and beyond.”
