Monumental Task Luke Lindberg appeared before the Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday to be interviewed for the position of USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. Because of the higher levels of protectionism in agriculture around the world, it is a tough position even in the best of times. He pledged to return the U.S. to being a net exporter of agricultural products at a time when key importing nations are erecting new barriers against them. If confirmed, he will be arriving late to a trade war in which negotiations with countries have been underway for weeks. And he may have fewer programs in which to support agricultural exports as there are rumors that some food aid programs may be on the chopping block.&nb...
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
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.