CAFTA-DR Rewrite When the CAFTA-DR FTA was finalized back in 2004, GDP in the Central American region was 30 percent smaller. Since that time, growth as been disproportionate. The Costa Rican economy has grown by 65 percent, Guatemala and Honduras are 37 percent richer, and the Dominican Republic is up 50 percent. But El Salvador’s Marxist-Leninist economy has shrunk, and Nicaragua’s dictatorship has kept its economy unchanged. Notably, many of the poorer signatory countries of the time agreed to tariff rate quotas that would stay in effect for almost two decades, keeping out American products for what seemed like a political lifetime. However, their protection is coming to an end and now some want the barriers renewed. It may...
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...
We have described the long-term investment climate in crop and livestock production, using data primarily from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The data provided background on the current investment climate and outlook for agricultural capital formation. Our conclusion was that investment...
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.