Venezuelan strongman leader Nicolas Maduro told Bloomberg that he wants U.S. President Joe Biden to end the sanctions imposed by Donald Trump and to allow foreign investment in his country. Some U.S. Congressional Democrats support the change in policy. Maduro told Bloomberg that, “Venezuela is going to become the land of opportunities”. He said, “I’m inviting U.S. investors so they don’t get left behind.” The sanctions were imposed by the Trump administration after citing human-rights violations, rigged elections, drug-trafficking, corruption, and currency manipulation. Venezuela ranks number 177 out of 178 on the Economic Freedom Index, just ahead of North Korea. It received a zero for inve...
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...
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) enters its mandated six-year review on 1 July. The original intent of the review is outlined in Article 34.7, which obligates members to: Provide recommendations and decide on appropriate actions. Extend the USMCA for another 16 years and meet aga...
The CBOT/CME markets and our offices will be closed tomorrow, Friday, 19 June in observance of the U.S. Juneteenth holiday. Please note that the next Ag Perspectives will be published on Monday, 22 June. ...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.