China In-Country Analysis
Policy Developments Will China Ultimately Retaliate? Coming on the heels of President Trump’s announcement last week confirming that his administration would implement its proposed 25 percent tariff on $50 billion worth of exports from China, Beijing said it would respond in kind with tar...
Market Commentary
Soybean and grain futures prices were lower to open the overnight session, and losses grew as trading progressed into the early morning. Understandably, soybeans were the downside leader as they are most directly threatened by Chinese tariffs. They were down more than 20 cents when trading rece...
Looking Ahead at the China Trade Dispute
Yesterday President Trump asked the U.S. Trade Representative to identify $200 billion worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs at a rate of 10 percent. His statement noted, “After the legal process is complete, these tariffs will go into effect if China refuses to change its practic...
Trade War Havoc
Trade wars invariably involve government actions intended to impede, punish or prevent imports and exports of goods between two or more countries. The most common ammunition used by participants is the imposition of higher tariffs and/or surcharges on either imports of specific items or on an a...
Oilseed Highlights: Chinese Tariff Impact on Upper Midwest; India’s Soyoil Tariff
Chinese Tariffs Impact on Upper Midwest Soybean Farmers Barring a settlement to the current trade dispute, China is expected to impose a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans effective 6 July. It appears the situation may intensify after President Trump yesterday threatened to implement additional...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS As part of its budget control measures, Egypt has announced price increases of 35-40 percent for gasoline (depending on the grade) and 60 percent for home cooking gas. This announcement was made during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays to avoid any org...
Illogical War; Illogical Reparations; Precaution or Hysteria?; Relations and Wars
Illogical War One can imagine more sophisticated approaches to rebalancing trade concessions than the one undertaken by the Trump administration. The president’s assertion was that a larger trade deficit and lower average tariffs mean the U.S. is in a stronger negotiating position. Howeve...
China Tariffs and U.S. Exports
The imposition of trade tariffs on imports from China and that country’s corresponding retaliation against imports from the U.S. have had a profoundly negative impact on corn, wheat and soybean prices since negotiations broke down. These trade issues have overwhelmed some bullish fundamen...
Fed Gets Less Dovish
As expected, the Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the federal funds rate last week by another 25 basis points to a target range of 1.75-2 percent. It was a unanimous decision, and the FOMC characterizes the new range as remaining accommodative. Moreover, post-meeting...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Impact of the U.S.-China Trade War Trading was slow in Brazil last week with an old-crop basis rally due to lack of farmer selling and news on the U.S.-China trade war. The latter included a Trump tweet about a possible tariff on Chinese imports, which was officially announced Thursday...
Market Commentary
Corn and wheat opened lower Sunday with soybeans slightly higher. Everything was slightly lower by the time markets closed this morning, and that is how they opened the day session. Soybeans traded back and forth with small gains or losses through much of today. Wheat was moderately lower with...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market had a weaker tone last week with the new crop harvest approaching and as export commitments for the first quarter of the new campaign are lower than a year ago at this time. The buyers/consumers in the major destinations are confused due to the conflicting rep...
China In-Country Analysis
Policy Developments Will China Ultimately Retaliate? Coming on the heels of President Trump’s announcement last week confirming that his administration would implement its proposed 25 percent tariff on $50 billion worth of exports from China, Beijing said it would respond in kind with tar...
Market Commentary
Soybean and grain futures prices were lower to open the overnight session, and losses grew as trading progressed into the early morning. Understandably, soybeans were the downside leader as they are most directly threatened by Chinese tariffs. They were down more than 20 cents when trading rece...
Looking Ahead at the China Trade Dispute
Yesterday President Trump asked the U.S. Trade Representative to identify $200 billion worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs at a rate of 10 percent. His statement noted, “After the legal process is complete, these tariffs will go into effect if China refuses to change its practic...
Trade War Havoc
Trade wars invariably involve government actions intended to impede, punish or prevent imports and exports of goods between two or more countries. The most common ammunition used by participants is the imposition of higher tariffs and/or surcharges on either imports of specific items or on an a...
Oilseed Highlights: Chinese Tariff Impact on Upper Midwest; India’s Soyoil Tariff
Chinese Tariffs Impact on Upper Midwest Soybean Farmers Barring a settlement to the current trade dispute, China is expected to impose a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans effective 6 July. It appears the situation may intensify after President Trump yesterday threatened to implement additional...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS As part of its budget control measures, Egypt has announced price increases of 35-40 percent for gasoline (depending on the grade) and 60 percent for home cooking gas. This announcement was made during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays to avoid any org...
Illogical War; Illogical Reparations; Precaution or Hysteria?; Relations and Wars
Illogical War One can imagine more sophisticated approaches to rebalancing trade concessions than the one undertaken by the Trump administration. The president’s assertion was that a larger trade deficit and lower average tariffs mean the U.S. is in a stronger negotiating position. Howeve...
China Tariffs and U.S. Exports
The imposition of trade tariffs on imports from China and that country’s corresponding retaliation against imports from the U.S. have had a profoundly negative impact on corn, wheat and soybean prices since negotiations broke down. These trade issues have overwhelmed some bullish fundamen...
Fed Gets Less Dovish
As expected, the Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the federal funds rate last week by another 25 basis points to a target range of 1.75-2 percent. It was a unanimous decision, and the FOMC characterizes the new range as remaining accommodative. Moreover, post-meeting...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Soybeans Impact of the U.S.-China Trade War Trading was slow in Brazil last week with an old-crop basis rally due to lack of farmer selling and news on the U.S.-China trade war. The latter included a Trump tweet about a possible tariff on Chinese imports, which was officially announced Thursday...
Market Commentary
Corn and wheat opened lower Sunday with soybeans slightly higher. Everything was slightly lower by the time markets closed this morning, and that is how they opened the day session. Soybeans traded back and forth with small gains or losses through much of today. Wheat was moderately lower with...
Southeast Europe Regional Analysis
Milling Wheat The Black Sea market had a weaker tone last week with the new crop harvest approaching and as export commitments for the first quarter of the new campaign are lower than a year ago at this time. The buyers/consumers in the major destinations are confused due to the conflicting rep...