Awkward Trade Talks The Trump administration formally notified the U.S. Congress today of its intent to enter trade negotiations with Japan, the EU and the UK. The announcement is notable given the following viewpoints of the other governments:
The Abe government in Tokyo is being dragged into talks reluctantly. Brussels has been focusing bilateral talks on standards harmonization while framing a broader trade negotiation as more difficult and time-consuming. Teresa May would prefer to finish Brexit negotiations before engaging in other bilateral arrangements.
Chemical Takes
U.S. environmental groups are upset that the EPA is considering approval of two pesticides, sulfoxaflor and Flupyradifurone, to replace neonicotinoi...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
