World Perspectives

USTR Sleeps Too Much; Weird Trade Obligations; War Profiteering

USTR Sleeps Too Much With hearings before House and Senate trade panels over the next two days, USTR Katherine Tai suddenly says she has “serious concerns” about Mexico’s energy policies. She reportedly did not arrive at those “concerns” until pushed by members of Congress representing the energy sector. This slough-like approach to trade problems mimics the lag in U.S. national security policy responding to what was a clear threat from Russia in Ukraine. All of this should concern U.S. agriculture since it faces its own existential threats from Mexico and elsewhere. USTR should not have waited until 2022 to begin what Ambassador Tai says is “actively assessing” Mexico’s policies. Prior to a...

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Market Commentary: Corn Leads Grains Lower on Fund Selling; Cattle Hit New Highs Again

Except for the cattle markets, the CBOT was sharply lower to start the week with trade policy, favorable weather, and weak technicals and large noncommercial short positions weighing on market sentiment. Cattle futures managed to rise to new all-time highs after last week’s record-breakin...

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From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

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