TTIP Long-View: The likely lengthy negotiation period for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Pact (TTIP) is now looking even longer. Already the effort was looking like it would take at least two years or potentially longer, given the complexity of the issues and the fact that principles on the U.S.-side are deeply distracted in trying to complete negotiation on a Trans-Pacific Pact (TPP). This week's events -- which include concerns about newly revealed American intelligence gathering intrusions on privacy rights in Europe, and French-led opposition to any talks that fail to include a "cultural exception" for its arts sector -- are combining to form large hurdles to achieving a European negotiating mandate. Given the estimate that TTI...
What You Need to Know Today: U.S. weather is getting more attention this week as conditions vary greatly across the western, central, and eastern corn belts, with the different regions battling dryness and too much rain simultaneously. The ProFarmer Crop Tour began today in Indiana and Nebrask...
Unlike the 2022 fertilizer shock, today’s disruption is rooted less in rerouted trade flows and more in damaged production capacity, raw material constraints and uncertain recovery timelines. That makes this a longer-duration risk for U.S. agricultural producers and retailers who must sec...
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.