Calls on Agencies to Move Expeditiously to Address Sugar Supply Shortages
Washington, D.C. (December 21, 2023) – The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) today commended Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, for her letter urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to swiftly implement Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations for sugar program reform.
Citing GAO’s findings, Senator Shaheen wrote:
“I am pleased to know that USDA and USTR agree with the GAO recommendations, and I am eager to learn how you will formally respond to the report. Swift implementation of these practical reforms to trade policy present a powerful opportunity to provide relief to families at the grocery store, increase domestic manufacturing, strengthen critical supply chains and continue to safeguard domestic sugar production. These are worthy and achievable goals, and I appreciate that GAO acknowledges that there are commonsense ways to move forward on this issue with broadly shared benefits for the American economy.”
“We thank Senator Shaheen for her letter and join her in urging USDA and USTR to move expeditiously toward adopting GAO’s recommendations for addressing the ongoing sugar supply shortages,” said SUA President Rick Pasco. “While Congress has the opportunity in the next farm bill to modernize U.S. sugar policy to meet current market needs, Senator Shaheen rightly notes that USDA and USTR have the wherewithal to provide more immediate relief to consumers in their administration of the sugar import quotas.”
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