World Perspectives

Missing Trade Policy Component; U.S.–Japan FTA; Trade Goal and Ag Sector Health

Missing Trade Policy Component WTO Director General Roberto Azevēdo is suggesting a plurilateral approach for at least some of the issues failing to reach consensus ahead of the ministerial meeting less than two months away. A plurilateral involves agreement by a subset of the full WTO membership. Meanwhile, the EU and U.S. may consider sectoral agreements given the uncertainty of accomplishing a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement. Sectorals focus on single areas of trade such as regulatory harmonization. However, a missing component in the WTO is an offensive call for improved market access, which would obviate demands for food security stockpiling since imports would be more readily available. I...

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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.

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