China’s new countercyclical pork production support program includes the goal of pork imports not exceeding 5 percent of production. The goal is not illegal provided Beijing does not exceed its WTO commitments for support and market access, but it does contravene the concept of free and open markets. China’s pork imports have been about 10 percent of consumption the past couple of years (see graph below). While China imports a lot of intermediate goods for further value-added and re-export, this policy is specifically intended to displace import competition. A similar policy for all goods in the U.S. would upset China’s export-led growth. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, around 11 percent of U...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...
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.