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: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...
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.