Fair Trade Impacts Harvard University researchers Raluca Dragusanu and Nathan Nunn analyzed (NBER Working Paper No. 24260) the impact of fair trade coffee certification, and while the economic effects are notable, the results may be incomplete. They found the income of skilled coffee growers increases sharply (+11.2 percent) when they are certified and that there are economic gains to the broader community. However, income for the intermediaries (transport, storage, sales) tends to decline. Missing from the analysis are the potential impacts on consumers, particularly in terms of product quality since the basis of pricing has been changed. Views on Trade Policy, Feed Grains Perceptions of Trump trade policy in WPI’s most re...
What You Need to Know Today: USDA reports are delayed until Tuesday due to the federal holiday on Monday. Over the weekend, President Trump announced a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Russia warmly welcomed and confirmed this ceasefire by conducting more strikes against Ukraine. Specific...
On Saturday, 10 October, at a campaign rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, President Trump said that the U.S. and Mexico would come to terms on a new trade deal, and he said Canada does not need to be part of the deal. Trump called the coming agreement with Mexico “great” but gave no d...
Key Takeaways: The United States has steadily lost global wheat export market share since the 1970s, falling from the world's leading exporter to a projected fifth place in 2026/27. The rapid expansion of Black Sea wheat exports, driven by improved productivity and export infrastructure, has r...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.