World Perspectives

China Strike First; Bad Boy of Africa; Made in Failure

China Strikes First The Biden Administration’s light-handed approach to trade is starting to reveal its cost. Ecuador has just announced completing a free trade agreement with China. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso, a South American moderate politician, visited Washington last month and while President Biden promised to strengthen the U.S. relationship with his country, there was no offer of a free trade agreement. Ecuador is a well-functioning democracy with an economy pegged to the dollar. President Biden recently signed a Congressionally approved U.S.-Ecuador Partnership Act, which transfers a couple of used Coast Guard cutters to Quito, and promises more economic integration and other supports, but China has the big price...

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WASDE Corn - Jan 2026

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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.

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