Swiss Miss Switzerland has reportedly moved higher on the list of countries potentially negotiating a free trade agreement with the U.S. Swiss Confederation President Ueli Maurer said, “We are trying to get the free trade agreement [with the U.S.] on track.” A similar effort in 2006 fell through due to Switzerland’s highly protected agricultural sector. This time the move has been backed by the Swiss Parliament, and the government is seeking to reform its agriculture sector by making it less protected, which means measures to help mitigate the losses farm families will inevitably face. It would also highlight the question of why EU agriculture should be exempted from trade negotiations. Political Ground Shift Wr...
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...