Policy Trump Administration Again Threatens Tariffs, Phase One Deal Stalls The optimistic prospects for an end to the tit-for-tat trade war that commenced in the summer of 2018 have yet again been dealt a setback. Although trade negotiators from China and the U.S. appeared to have agreed on the framework for a phased-in set of agreements, which were to commence with a Phase One signing at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Chile, that prospect disappeared as the host country become embroiled in internal economic strife. If and when the signing of the Phase One accord will take place remains to be seen. The sticking point at least as reported in various press outlets has been China’s unwillingness to commit to b...
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...
From WPI Consulting
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.