Keeping Competition Domestic Trade disputes of any kind tend to spill over into agriculture and so it is a good idea for aggies to pay attention to all of them, and that includes the growing problem in digital services. The U.S. Trade Representative concluded a Section 301investigation into the Digital Services Tax employed by Austria, Spain, and the UK and found them discriminatory. More countries will be joining the list and then the Biden Administration will be faced with what to do about it. But it does not stop with just taxes. Germany is set to amend its Act Against Restraints on Competition, a version of American antitrust law, to go after Big Tech. And then there is the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which will make Big Tec...
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
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.