Discriminatory Trade to Hit Ag The Inflation Reduction Act increases taxes and spending but also invites retaliation against U.S. agricultural exports. Agriculture and rural communities will benefit from a $40 billion allocation that boosts conservation spending, biofuel capacity, rural energy, plus forestry and fire management. But its preferential tax credits and domestic content requirements for solar and electric vehicles will invite WTO dispute settlement cases for violating rules against discriminatory treatment. The Act effectively imposes a 10 percent tariff on foreign built electric cars and batteries. Non-FTA trading partners like China and Europe are mostly impacted and will end up reinstating the 25 percent tariffs against U.S...
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
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.