Argentina Faces the Hammer The EU formally requested WTO consultations with Argentina over the latter's non-automatic import licensing and its requirement that importers balance their purchases with exports. If unresolved in the next 60 days, the EU can request the formation of a WTO dispute settlement panel (DSP). U.S. business representatives meeting next week are likely to ask USTR to join the complaint. At least 19 countries have complained about Argentina's behavior. Buenos Aires is likely to reject a panel formation, which would kick the decision to the next meeting of the TSP committee but would not remove a day of reckoning. Cost of Being Outside TPP South Korea this week said it would like to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership...
What You Need to Know Today: Cattle futures extended their sharp selloff Friday as weakening cash cattle prices, deteriorating feedlot profitability, and reduced packer demand continued to weigh on the market. The inability of futures to sustain a rally following last week's bullish Cattle on...
As predicted, the Federal Reserve held rates steady at the last meeting before the midterm elections, likely in part because of the election (see WPI 19 October and 22 September). The decision comes at the tail end of a midterm election cycle that has been marked by the two parties campaigning...
Key Takeaways: The tariff burden rose sharply in 2025 and 2026: the effective rate on imports in HTS Chapters 1–24 increased from 1.53 percent in 2024 to 6.11 percent in 2025, before averaging 5.68 percent in January–August 2026. Headline rates tell only part of the story: exemptio...
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.