Unnecessary Protectionism The pro-trade group, Hinrich Foundation, correctly calculates that the relative commercial strengths of the U.S. and Brazil make them perfect free trade agreement partners. After all, the U.S. is more competitive in capital goods, consumer products and machinery, while Brazil’s strengths are in agriculture, intermediate goods and minerals. The difference in the two countries’ Revealed Comparative Advantage is just 16 percent, yet Brazil imposes border protection that is nearly 4,000 percent greater. Indeed, if Brazil has a comparative advantage in animal products, hides and skins and vegetables, why does it need to impose tariff rates on these products that are an average 250 greater?
Solving...
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...
