Psychological Warfare In addition to farmers, China knows that Donald Trump’s other weak spot is the American economy and, more specifically, the stock market. The Chinese State Council’s announcement of proposed retaliatory tariffs accomplished its mission (with help from Mr. Trump), sending Wall Street and Chicago into a full risk-off day. However, the tariffs are only at 5-10 percent. Those are not so much punitive as annoying. Moreover, if critics of Mr. Trump’s tariffs are correct, those to be imposed by Beijing are mostly punitive to the Chinese people. Both sides are trying to make a point while minimizing the damage. That is why it is a drip, drip, drip campaign – not black torture like beatings but so-calle...
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.