China seeks treatment as a market economy, and yet its top-down policies such as the Textile Industry Development Plan reveal the extent to which it will take nonmarket measures to advance its industrial dominance. China Risks Bilateral Relations The suggestion by Chinese official Ni Hongxing that his government may take measures such as imposing antidumping duties and more restrictive nontariff barriers on soybean imports (see Oilseeds Highlights above) in order promote greater self-sufficiency of the oilseed may be the straw that breaks the bilateral camel’s back. Support by average Americans for trade generally, and particularly with China, is already declining. Agriculture represents one of the few sectors where there has been broad s...
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.
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...