World Perspectives

Tax Reform and Change at the Fed

Yesterday was a red-letter day for fiscal and monetary proposals with the Republican majority on the House Ways and Means Committee unveiling a new tax reform plan and the White House announcement of a new nominee for chair of the Federal Reserve Board. The committee’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included some major reforms sought by agriculture groups, while others are not so welcome. Of relevance to the sector are the following: The estate tax would be repealed in 2025 (after six years), and the exemption for inherited income would be immediately doubled. The bill preserves stepped-up basis on capital gains, a key provision for long-term capital gains such as realized with farmland and assets. A new maximum tax rate of 25 percent is...

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Canadian Elections

Canadian voters went to the polls last night. They selected Mark Carney, the current Prime Minister, as the leader of the new government. The writ of election was issued just over a month ago, on 23 March, after Governor General Mary Simon accepted a request to dissolve parliament from Prime Mi...

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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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