World Perspectives

Overwrought Iron; Ethanol Compromise Conflict; Inflation and Market

Overwrought Iron President Trump announced today that he would be imposing protective duties on imports of steel (25 percent) and aluminum (10 percent). The Twitteria reacted with scorn, calling them “heavy” duties, and the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin warned that if “Trump starts a trade war, any recession will be on him.” Perhaps, but some balanced perspective is needed. First, Trump is not the first president to fulfill a campaign promise and impose punitive duties on steel imports. George W. Bush did likewise in 2002. Like Trump, he said they would be imposed for a long time. After a WTO dispute settlement panel ruled them illegal because there had been no surge in steel imports, though, Bush withdrew...

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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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