International trade is supposed to equilibrate prices as the supply of goods or services flow to where they deemed more precious. Hog prices in Europe are currently 57 percent higher than in the U.S., which some believe creates an opportunity for transatlantic pork sales. However, open markets do not automatically overcome price differences caused by transportation, consumer preference, quality, exchange rates and other factors. The EU is a single market, but not all members of the trading bloc belong to the eurozone. Eastern European countries complained about poorer quality food, but their consumers were not always willing or able to pay as much as those in richer parts of Europe. The EU’s geographic preferences reinforce different...
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.
A federal appeals court paused a USITC ruling against President Trump’s use of Section 122 to impose 10-percent global tariffs. A bipartisan group of 80 House members asked USTR to investigate specialty crop imports from Mexico for unfair trade practices. India notified the WT...