Owning the Deal In usual trade negotiations, a U.S. president’s subordinates negotiate, and when there is agreement, it is brought to the leader for concurrence. President Trump has announced that bilateral negotiations with China may now extend beyond the deadline, and “No final deal will be made until my friend President Xi, and I meet, in the near future to discuss and agree on some of the long standing and more complex issues.” This has likely been greeted with great appeal by the Chinese since they are more confident of coopting the vain Mr. Trump than his hardened subordinates like USTR Lighthizer. Separately, China advisor Robert Kuhn notes the irony of Washington pushing for reforms by Beijing that will help the...
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.