False Equivalence In asserting its right to be treated like a market economy, China claimed in Geneva this week that its industrial subsidies are no different than the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy or U.S. corn prices. This is false equivalence in terms of both law and scale. First, the Uruguay Round agreement specifically provides for the agriculture subsidies, whereas China exploits a loophole in the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. Second, agriculture represents just 1.5 percent of EU gross domestic product (GDP) and 1.0 percent of the American economy. By contrast, China’s national government is manipulating nearly 40 percent of its major industries via their being state-owned. Based on the WTO appellat...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
Key Takeaways: Consumer spending is a key driver of the U.S. economy, and the latest retail sales data indicate that spending remains robust despite inflation. In September, total retail and food service sales rose more than 6 percent year-over-year, with food service spending up 7 percent and...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
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.