Rhetoric and Economics USTR Katherine Tai made another valiant attempt this week to defend the Biden Administration’s trade policy. Her reassurances sound good because they are a bit Pollyannish. She repeated most of the current Administration thinking on trade policy – that the traditional approach does not work in the current real world and the goal is results that are more inclusive and bringing broader benefits because it is after all “worker-centric.” But trade is about competition, and competition has winners and losers. Everyone can’t earn a participation prize. The current state-directed investment could have a payoff, though it will take years to assess its success or failure. In the meantime, the U.S...
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.