Alignments Against Phase One The markets reacted today to negative news about the state of the U.S. – China trade war. Craig Allen, President of U.S.-China Business Council said he is pessimistic, suggesting that Xi Jinping does not trust Donald Trump and any phase one agreement will be both marginal in substance and temporary. Complicating the situation are developments surrounding Hong Kong, with Beijing threatening to retaliate for U.S. Senate legislation censoring Beijing, and now young people in Taiwan reacting by giving more support for the independence of Formosa. A top U.S. negotiator said today that they are neither optimistic nor pessimistic since they don’t know where the situation is going to wind up. Meanwh...
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.
What You Need to Know Today: Attention is turning toward Friday's USDA WASDE report, with traders looking for updated corn and soybean production estimates and revisions to domestic and global supply-and-demand balances. The report could help establish a clearer direction for grain price...
Key Takeaways: U.S. beef production is forecast to fall 10.5 percent in 2026 and remain unchanged in 2027, despite a mild recovery in fed cattle slaughter. Record beef imports will help offset shrinking domestic production, with imports forecast to increase 14.0 percent in 2026 and anoth...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e. lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the ma...