02/20/2025 Shot at the Title, Step Up

On the Grains
There is a story about a boy who cried wolf so many times that people didn’t believe him, yet everybody was surprised when the wolf showed up. That feels like the tariff situation currently. One minute, we announce tariffs on everybody based on reciprocal values, the next, we kick the can down the road for a month or whatever amount of time if certain conditions are met. So far, all this chatter has not affected the gain market. How long that proceeds to remain is yet to be seen. While I am not, and other nations also believe he will do it, saying that President Trump is crying “tariff” as so far, he has done what he said he would do on foreign matters, it does make it increasingly difficult to trade. The labeling of Ukraine’s President Zelensky as a dictator has me wondering what the endgame for Trump really is. Is it possible that he is trying to turn the popular opinion of the EU against Ukraine so that they are forced to the negotiation table quicker and be willing to give some concessions? I would guess that is the case. One thing is certain with President Trump: he has a map of what he wants to do in his head, and we find out along the way what the plans are. It reminds me of when I was a kid and asked during supper, “What is this?” and was immediately told not to worry about it, just eat it.