China Realism The markets are justifiably tuning out all the headlines over U.S. – China trade negotiations. Craig Allen, President of the U.S. China Business Council warns that agriculture will continue to get hurt in the escalating competition with China. He says Xi Jinping does not trust Donald Trump and any phase one agreement will be both marginal and temporary. The Chinese are not going to buy what they don’t need, nor pay prices that are higher than what is charged elsewhere. In short, it has to be WTO legal. Chinese tariffs on agricultural products is the most powerful thing China has and they will always be a threat. There will be some notional aspirational ag purchases, but actual sales will not impress. The Phase II...
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
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.