Terrible Trade Negotiators Donald Trump’s accusation about the trade negotiators from past administrations was that they were terrible. However, the evidence is not stacking up very well for his own negotiators. Consider the following:
Canada and the EU reached a bilateral trade agreement in which Ottawa recognized Europe’s geographic indicators that are strongly opposed by U.S. agricultural producers. Japan negotiated a bilateral trade agreement with Mexico but refuses to negotiate one with the U.S. The EU isn’t negotiating a trade agreement with the U.S., but it did complete a bilateral agreement with Mexico in which 99 percent of products will be duty-free, including 98 percent upon entry into force. Mexico City a...
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...