President Trump is using tariffs to rectify what he asserts is the unfair practices by other countries. He also accuses trading partners of currency manipulation. He is correct that currency exchange rates impact the competitiveness of U.S. exports. USDA’s Economic Research Service maintains a currency exchange rate database that weighs the impact of the dollar’s value on trade based on both the commodity, and the trading partner country. In terms of countries and exchange rates, the Trump tariff war was expected to increase the value of the dollar as a safe haven in turbulent times, but the opposite happened. Most currencies have instead rallied against the dollar. Year-to-date, the dollar is down 8.6 percent versus the Japanes...
From WPI Consulting
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.