Production Standards Astray EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström reportedly agreed at an animal welfare conference last week that imported meat products should meet the same production standards as those applied in the EU. That may be fine, provided they are objective animal welfare standards such as those developed by the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE), but animal campaigners in Europe have a far more aggressive view. For example, Eurogroup for Animals wants to completely “reduce and replace live animal transport.” They also broadly assert pain and suffering in the slaughter process. Given the politicization of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards in Europe on everything from GMOs to glyphosate, animal...
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
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.