Carou-Selled When carousel retaliation (periodically changing the products targeted for trade retaliation) was introduced in 2000, the goal was to increase the uncertainty and broaden the pain inflicted to increase the chance of compliance by the targeted country. This week the Trump Administration adjusted the targeted products being punished in Europe over Airbus subsidies and the reaction was muted. In part because the products removed from retaliation are relieved, offsetting the screaming from the newly targeted products. It probably helped as well that the level of punishment was kept the same and USTR emphasized the goal of a negotiated settlement. With the WTO likely to rule next month on the level of retaliation Brussels can impos...
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.