No Secrets A side show in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) debate is news that America's National Security Agency (NSA) has pursued information out of Europe that may be helpful to U.S. trade negotiators. German Bundestag member Hans-Ulrich Klose has suggested that it would help to have more details on the NSA's activities and for Washington to give assurance that the effort will stop. However, such efforts are the portfolio of intelligence agencies in all countries. The EU's INTCEN would be failing at its task if it were not similarly collecting information on U.S. government intentions with regard to TTIP. At this stage in the negotiations, there is likely very little that isn't known through public sources...
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...
Markets are getting into the Halloween spirit, handing out more tricks than treats. There has been some encouraging news, but it hasn’t been enough to slow the broader slide. Now buyers need to show up with something other than another “Charlie Brown” rock for the bag. Somethi...
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.