Transatlantic Course Setting U.S. President Donald Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed a new effort at a transatlantic trade agreement in Davos this week. Instead of leading with tariffs, Mr. Trump said he does not believe they will be necessary since “We expect to be able to make a deal with Europe.” Perhaps his first step should be complete transparency over what a deal between the two partners would look like, and why. The two parties can ultimately negotiate behind closed doors but building public understanding and ultimately obtaining support requires knowledge about the hurdles to trade and their remedies. Brussels intends to publish each member state’s National Energy and Climate Plan,...
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.