Hill Jam Researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK affirm the work of other economists in finding that the imposition of tariffs harms both the foreign countries supplying goods and the nation erecting such market access barriers. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe affirmed that principle this week when he said, “Restrictive [import] measures are not in the interests of any country.” This raises the question as to why countries retaliated against Mr. Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs since their actions constituted self-harm. Political analysis in Washington this week predicts that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) will not allow votes on USMCA or an eventual trade agreement with Japan because of t...
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.
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...