Rigged Self-Sufficiency U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer shared his protectionist views with members of the House Ways and Means Committee last week by saying, “I am a firm believer that the things we need to fight the pandemic should be made in America…I’m not in favor of reducing tariffs on the things we need. I would be far more in favor of increasing tariffs on the things we need.” This is a resignation to the adage that, “if you can’t beat em, join em.” After all, the Trump Administration has previously faulted India for using the approach of raising tariffs to the point that it is only possible to produce domestically rather than import. Former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack re...
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.