Ratification Prospects Opposition to the USMCA has been muted as analysts wait to see the fine print behind the Trump administration’s optimistic spin. There is a rational view that a Democratic takeover of the U.S. House in midterm elections will make its approval unlikely. Democratic votes for free-trade agreements are difficult under the best of circumstances, and members will be loath in an anti-Trump election to hand any kind of victory to their party’s greatest nemesis. The announcement that the U.S. and the Philippines will start negotiations on a free-trade agreement is even less likely to get Democratic support. That country’s leader, Rodrigo Duterte, is viewed as a Trump clone. The only hope is that it takes en...
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
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.