Inefficient Redistribution Policies; Overwhelming Complexity
Inefficient Redistribution Policies Researchers point out that governments use trade policies to redistribute income even though it is less efficient than using taxes because those invested in the protectionism are more likely to sustain it despite changes in political regimes. The pandemic has...
Sustainability Goals; Splintering Transatlantic; Korea Reveals WTO Flaws
Sustainability Goals Returning USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says that agriculture is ready to embrace the goals of slowing climate change. President Biden has issued several executive orders limiting fossil fuel development and more are forthcoming. However, his centrally planned Build America Be...
FOB Prices and Freight Rate App (Updated 26 January)
Ocean Freight Comments - 21 January 2021 By Jay O'Neil Commodity Consulting Dry-bulk freight markets played their normal game this week; indices and rates were up for the first three business days and then ran into selling pressure and scaled back from the highs at weeks end. Overall, markets a...
Interactive Ocean Freight Rates (Updated 26 January)
Ocean Freight Comments - 21 January 2021 By Jay O'Neil Commodity Consulting Dry-bulk freight markets played their normal game this week; indices and rates were up for the first three business days and then ran into selling pressure and scaled back from the highs at weeks end. Overall, market...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Russia’s weather remains warmer-than-normal for the next week. While no concerns currently exist for the crop (other than the impacts of late planting and early dryness), the warm temperatures mean a lack of snow cover that could increase winterkill if a cold snap deve...
Challenge of Sustainability
The EU wants to reduce pesticide use by 50 percent and fertilizer applications by 20 percent. These are arbitrary metrics chosen by policymakers. To ensure a level playing field, some lawmakers want to restrict imported food that does not meet or exceed Europe’s production standards. Diff...
Get What You Beget; Economic Weapons; Marketing Plan?
Get What You Beget It started with geographic indicators, then it moved on to country of origin labeling even for products made within the EU’s “single” market, next came calls for food sovereignty, though that is aimed at stopping food imports from third country suppliers. No...
Fish and Livestock Jurisdiction; Sustainability Definition
Fish and Livestock Jurisdiction In one of its end of power moves, the Trump Administration orchestrated a Memorandum of Understanding that shifted regulatory oversight of genetically modified livestock intended for the food system from FDA to USDA. The agreement was signed by HHS, the parent de...
SEA High Road; China’s Mixed Story; Focus and Outlook
SEA High Road European activists have tarnished palm oil from Southeast Asia by saying it destroys rainforests and compelled some countries to ban its use in biofuels. Malaysia has filed a WTO complaint over the ban and joined with Indonesia in trying to resuscitate their image in Europe via a...
Next Pork Markets
Global pork exports have grown by 66 percent over the past decade, with China a major reason for the expansion. A major driver for China’s expanded imports over the past year-plus has been African Swine Fever. Now that ASF is under control and China’s domestic hog herd is expanding...
Keeping Competition Domestic; Forest for the Trees
Keeping Competition Domestic Trade disputes of any kind tend to spill over into agriculture and so it is a good idea for aggies to pay attention to all of them, and that includes the growing problem in digital services. The U.S. Trade Representative concluded a Section 301investigation into the...
Green Path Forward; River Boat Tom; Toppling the Dollar
Green Path Forward Donald Trump tried to use tariffs to leverage trade concessions he selfishly wanted for the U.S. The tool for leveraging trade negotiations in the future is likely to be border measures related to domestic climate change measures. Both the EU and the incoming Biden Administra...
Inefficient Redistribution Policies; Overwhelming Complexity
Inefficient Redistribution Policies Researchers point out that governments use trade policies to redistribute income even though it is less efficient than using taxes because those invested in the protectionism are more likely to sustain it despite changes in political regimes. The pandemic has...
Sustainability Goals; Splintering Transatlantic; Korea Reveals WTO Flaws
Sustainability Goals Returning USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says that agriculture is ready to embrace the goals of slowing climate change. President Biden has issued several executive orders limiting fossil fuel development and more are forthcoming. However, his centrally planned Build America Be...
FOB Prices and Freight Rate App (Updated 26 January)
Ocean Freight Comments - 21 January 2021 By Jay O'Neil Commodity Consulting Dry-bulk freight markets played their normal game this week; indices and rates were up for the first three business days and then ran into selling pressure and scaled back from the highs at weeks end. Overall, markets a...
Interactive Ocean Freight Rates (Updated 26 January)
Ocean Freight Comments - 21 January 2021 By Jay O'Neil Commodity Consulting Dry-bulk freight markets played their normal game this week; indices and rates were up for the first three business days and then ran into selling pressure and scaled back from the highs at weeks end. Overall, market...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Russia’s weather remains warmer-than-normal for the next week. While no concerns currently exist for the crop (other than the impacts of late planting and early dryness), the warm temperatures mean a lack of snow cover that could increase winterkill if a cold snap deve...
Challenge of Sustainability
The EU wants to reduce pesticide use by 50 percent and fertilizer applications by 20 percent. These are arbitrary metrics chosen by policymakers. To ensure a level playing field, some lawmakers want to restrict imported food that does not meet or exceed Europe’s production standards. Diff...
Get What You Beget; Economic Weapons; Marketing Plan?
Get What You Beget It started with geographic indicators, then it moved on to country of origin labeling even for products made within the EU’s “single” market, next came calls for food sovereignty, though that is aimed at stopping food imports from third country suppliers. No...
Fish and Livestock Jurisdiction; Sustainability Definition
Fish and Livestock Jurisdiction In one of its end of power moves, the Trump Administration orchestrated a Memorandum of Understanding that shifted regulatory oversight of genetically modified livestock intended for the food system from FDA to USDA. The agreement was signed by HHS, the parent de...
SEA High Road; China’s Mixed Story; Focus and Outlook
SEA High Road European activists have tarnished palm oil from Southeast Asia by saying it destroys rainforests and compelled some countries to ban its use in biofuels. Malaysia has filed a WTO complaint over the ban and joined with Indonesia in trying to resuscitate their image in Europe via a...
Next Pork Markets
Global pork exports have grown by 66 percent over the past decade, with China a major reason for the expansion. A major driver for China’s expanded imports over the past year-plus has been African Swine Fever. Now that ASF is under control and China’s domestic hog herd is expanding...
Keeping Competition Domestic; Forest for the Trees
Keeping Competition Domestic Trade disputes of any kind tend to spill over into agriculture and so it is a good idea for aggies to pay attention to all of them, and that includes the growing problem in digital services. The U.S. Trade Representative concluded a Section 301investigation into the...
Green Path Forward; River Boat Tom; Toppling the Dollar
Green Path Forward Donald Trump tried to use tariffs to leverage trade concessions he selfishly wanted for the U.S. The tool for leveraging trade negotiations in the future is likely to be border measures related to domestic climate change measures. Both the EU and the incoming Biden Administra...